Opinion: Why is Egypt helping Israel become the new trade corridor?

Since the launch of its Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the Palestinian group Hamas has been looking to its allies in the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance" for support in confronting Israel's brutal military force. Notably, many Axis members responded to the calls of the Palestinian resistance, albeit cautiously.

However, Yemen's contribution to the fight against Israeli aggression is perhaps having the most significant impact among the coalition partners.

Since November, Houthi armed forces have focused on maritime operations by blocking or seizing commercial ships they say are en route or linked to Israel.

The group made clear that its objective was to enforce Article 1 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide - ratified by Yemen in 1989 - which requires states to "prevent and to punish" perpetrators of genocide. 

The world has since felt the consequence of Yemen’s geographical position and its impact on international trade, given the close proximity of the Yemeni Perim Island to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

However, rather than force Israel to comply with international law and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the US and its regional allies, including Egypt, have launched a joint project to transport cargo on land as an alternative trade route to the Red Sea.

Ironically, despite its role in precipitating the maritime clashes and regional tensions more broadly, Israel is positioning its port as the new corridor for global trade. This effort, which intends to divert traffic from the Suez Canal, will result in a major loss of income for Egypt and prove lucrative for Israel.

Red Sea attacks: Why is Egypt helping Israel become the new trade corridor?  -By Walid Abuhelal