MANAMA, BAHRAIN - In a passionate address to the 33rd Arab Summit, Chairman of the Presidential Council Rashad Al-Alimi yesterday warned that the Houthi group's actions have "jeopardized the Palestinian cause, transforming it into a source of threat to the region and the world."

Al-Alimi's stern warning came as he cautioned that the dangers associated with the group's practices extend far beyond threats to international navigation and global trade freedom, posing a significant risk to regional security and stability.

The Houthi group, classified as a global terrorist organization, was labeled a "wayward faction" by Al-Alimi, who argued that they lack the moral credibility to defend just causes. He accused the Houthis of evading the path of peace, neglecting their obligations to pay employees, and instead opting for war while boasting about targeting oil facilities and international shipping routes.

In a veiled critique of certain Arab nations' stances towards the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Al-Alimi emphasized that the danger will engulf their countries unless they cease making momentary calculations and engaging in interim deals with adversaries.

Despite the challenging circumstances imposed by the Houthi militias and their Iranian backers, Al-Alimi reaffirmed that the Palestinian cause remains the foremost central issue for the Yemeni people. He stressed the importance of "Arab solidarity and effective diplomacy" in confronting occupation, oppression, and racism.

The Chairman also highlighted the need to differentiate between responsible official efforts aimed at achieving genuine solutions for the Palestinian people and opportunistic attempts to exploit the crisis for expansionist political gains in the region.

Expressing confidence in the summit's potential as a "summit of wisdom," Al-Alimi hoped it would mark a significant shift in the trajectory of joint Arab action.

The historic summit, hosted by Bahrain for the first time, addressed a range of pressing regional issues, including the war in Gaza, developments in Libya and Yemen, and supporting Somalia and the United Comoros Islands, among others.

The Houthi group's missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea have led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many shipping companies to opt for the longer route around Africa. In response, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023 to safeguard maritime navigation from the Houthi attacks.

Despite efforts by the US and UK to destroy Houthi mobile missile sites, the group announced plans to expand the scope of their attacks last week, resulting in ship traffic volumes in the Red Sea remaining at a low 40-50% of last year's levels."