The Port of Eilat in southern Israel will lay off half of its workforce this week due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the port’s CEO, Gideon Golber, said on Sunday.
“Eilat Port is Israel’s southern gateway to the Far East, Australia, and Africa,” Golber told Israeli daily Maariv. “All activity stopped because ships could no longer pass in any direction to reach Eilat Port or travel towards Europe through the Suez Canal. Therefore, the port halted its operations and income stopped.”
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Golber noted that due to the economic losses, the port will lay off 50% of its workers this week. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the port has incurred losses of 50 million shekels ($13.61 million). Approximately 120 people are currently employed at the port.
The Houthis have been targeting Israeli-owned, flagged, operated, or destined ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where nearly 39,000 people have been killed in an Israeli offensive since October 7, 2023.
