Eilat’s paralysis exposes Israel’s maritime vulnerability under Yemen’s blockade

Since the imposition of the naval blockade by Yemen—shortly after the start of the Gaza war in support of the Palestinian people and resistance—the occupied port of Eilat, Israel’s main maritime artery for imports and exports, has been completely paralyzed.

According to Israeli sources, despite the ceasefire in Gaza, Yemen’s maritime threats against Israel persist, prompting Eilat port authorities to seek U.S. and Egyptian intervention to end the situation.

The Hebrew-language economic daily Calcalist reported that Eilat port officials recently contacted the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, requesting that the issue of the Suez Canal and freedom of navigation for Israel be included in agreements signed under the supervision of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to Calcalist, the Eilat Port Authority has also asked the Egyptian government, as the owner of the Suez Canal, to pressure Yemen to lift the blockade. The crisis comes amid a drastic decline in Eilat’s activity, with almost all shipping traffic to the port halted since November 2023 — leading to an 80% drop in revenue.

The Eilat Port Authority announced that, despite limited financial support from the Israeli cabinet since the start of the crisis, the continuation of operations and salary payments remains uncertain.

Calcalist emphasized that Yemen, despite the Gaza ceasefire, has not stopped threatening commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, warning that any ship carrying goods to Israel—or cooperating with it—will be targeted.

According to the report, as a result of these threats, the Suez Canal has been effectively closed to Western vessels since early 2024, as most European and American companies have avoided using it. Only Russian, Iranian, and some Chinese ships are allowed to pass.

The paper linked the Eilat Port crisis to the broader Suez Canal crisis, claiming that the situation not only harms Israel but also severely impacts Egypt’s economy, since the canal is Cairo’s main source of foreign currency.

Statistics cited by Calcalist show that Suez Canal revenues dropped from about $10.25 billion in 2023 to only $3.99 billion in 2024—a nearly 60% loss. The International Monetary Fund has described this decline as a major threat to Egypt’s fiscal stability, forcing Cairo to implement broad financial reforms, including subsidy cuts and improved tax collection, to reduce its dependence on foreign income.

The report noted that the Suez Canal represents a strategic asset for Egypt, as roughly one-third of its budget depends on canal revenues. Therefore, the paper claimed, Egypt has an incentive to cooperate with Israel to restore normal maritime traffic.

According to Eilat port officials quoted in the report, shared economic interests may push Cairo to increase its contacts with Arab countries and the U.S. to pressure Yemen to halt its naval operations—though Egypt has not yet responded to Israel’s request.

Anger within Israeli circles

The report added that the Israeli cabinet has allocated $4 million to support Eilat Port amid the crisis—partly to cover debts and local taxes—but port officials say the aid is insufficient. They insist that normal commercial activity must resume for the port to remain viable, which is impossible unless navigation restrictions in the Suez Canal are lifted.

Meanwhile, Hebrew media circles have sharply criticized the Israeli cabinet for downplaying the Eilat Port crisis, warning that continued inaction could result in hundreds of job losses and further strain Israel’s already war-hit economy.

Strategic importance of the occupied Port of Eilat

Over the past decade, maritime traffic at Eilat Port has increased significantly. Initially designed for smaller vessels, the port has expanded to accommodate ships carrying 14,000–20,000 containers.

The Israeli cabinet had planned to further expand Eilat with a 400-meter container pier connected by rail to central and northern occupied Palestine. However, the project has been suspended since the outbreak of the Gaza war.

Eilat is the only port under Israeli control not located on the Mediterranean Sea. Ships arriving from the south and east do not need to pass through the Suez Canal, making Eilat a uniquely strategic maritime hub for the Zionist regime.

The port primarily handles vehicle imports, as most cars arriving from East Asia pass through it. It also serves as the main export point for potash to the Far East—particularly India and China—and as a key entryway for essential goods, machinery, raw materials, and food supplies destined for Israeli markets.

Eilat Port was privatized in 2013, purchased by Jewish businessmen for 122 billion shekels (around $33 billion). The privatization agreement runs through 2028, with the option for extension. Currently, about 120 workers under collective contracts and around 70 security personnel are directly employed at the port.

Two years before the Gaza war, Eilat Port experienced a period of remarkable growth, becoming the main entry point for vehicles into the occupied Palestinian territories.