The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on south Israel and the ensuing war in the Gaza Strip have impacted the trade of goods coming in and out of the Israeli market, particularly those transiting through its seaports. Israel has a total of six seaports that have been facing multiple challenges since October, including rocket fire from Gaza and destabilization of maritime transportation in the Red Sea following attacks on ships by the Yemen-based Houthis.
Productivity at the port of Eilat on the shores of the Red Sea, for instance, has been deeply impacted by the Houthi threat, reducing its scope of activity by almost 90%. The port of Ashkelon, which is the closest to Gaza, has completely shut down due to the war. As for the port of Ashod, which is located some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Gaza Strip on the Mediterranean coast, has only sustained partial damage and continues to operate. The port is legally defined as an essential state infrastructure and, therefore, must continue to run even during wartime, its acting Director General Eli Bar-Yosef told Al-Monitor.
The following interview with Bar-Yosef has been edited for length and clarity.
How has the Houthi threat affected Israel’s port sector?
