Yemen’s Houthi movement has confirmed it has paused maritime attacks on Israel and lifted its naval blockade of Israeli ports, signalling a temporary halt in its Red Sea campaign. The announcement was made in a letter sent to Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, by Yousef Hassan Al-Madani, the newly appointed Houthi chief of staff who replaced Mohammed Al-Ghamari after his death in an Israeli airstrike.

The letter, published online by Hamas, offered the group’s clearest statement so far that its operations have been suspended. In the message, Al-Madani said the Houthis were closely monitoring developments and declared that if Israel resumes its aggression in Gaza, they would return to military operations and reinstate the ban on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas.

The Houthis have not issued a formal statement confirming an end to their campaign. Since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on 10 October, no new attacks have been claimed by the group.

Over the past couple of years, Houthi strikes have killed at least nine seafarers and sunk four ships, forcing global trade routes to divert around the Cape of Good Hope. The rerouting increased ton-mile demand and freight rates.

Israel’s military, which has carried out strikes killing senior Houthi leaders, declined to comment. In September, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to respond “sevenfold” after a drone attack on Eilat that injured 22 people.

Egypt said it is preparing plans for the resumption of trade through the Suez Canal. French container line CMA CGM has begun testing a westbound passage on its MEX service this week, following two eastbound runs on its FAL1 route.

The current pause has brought temporary relief to global shipping, though the situation remains dependent on the continuation of the Gaza ceasefire.