Israel & Hamas Agree To Ceasefire Deal That Could End Red Sea Shipping Crisis

After more than 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal. This agreement, announced by Qatar’s Prime Minister on Wednesday, could lead to relief for ships in the Red Sea, which have been facing disruptions due to attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The ceasefire is set to begin this Sunday and will last six weeks. During this time, Israel will gradually pull its forces out of Gaza. The deal is divided into three phases, each lasting 42 days, making it a six-month-long ceasefire.

After the ceasefire, there are plans for rebuilding Gaza, which will take about three to five years. Qatar, Egypt, and the United Nations will lead the rebuilding efforts.

The Red Sea has been a hotspot for attacks on commercial vessels. Since October 2023, over 100 ships have been hit by drone and missile attacks, mainly by the Houthis.

These attacks forced many ships to take longer routes, increasing costs and emissions. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas could help reduce these tensions, but the situation is still uncertain.

The Houthis have made it clear they will stop their attacks only if Israel stops all military actions, ends the siege on Gaza, allows humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, pulls out of the Gaza Strip, and stops military activities in Yemen.

Despite the ceasefire, experts are cautious about the future of Red Sea shipping. Lars H. Barstad, CEO of Frontline, said shipowners won’t risk sending vessels through the region until it is completely safe.

The ceasefire agreement was made possible by several important leaders and negotiators.

-David Barnea, head of Israel’s spy agency, led Israel’s team in the talks.
-Ronen Bar, head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, was involved in negotiations about releasing prisoners.
-Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ main negotiator, worked through Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
-Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, played a key role in the talks in Doha.
-Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s intelligence agency, also helped with the negotiations.
-Brett McGurk, U.S. President Joe Biden’s Middle East adviser, helped draft the deal.
-Steve Witkoff, a special envoy from President-elect Donald Trump, also helped with the talks.

Shipping expert Mark Williams warned that the Houthis might keep attacking ships to use it as leverage in future negotiations.

Guy Platten, head of the International Chamber of Shipping, discussed the need for the release of the Galaxy Leader crew, who have been held hostage by the Houthis for 14 months.

Although there have been no confirmed attacks by the Houthis on ships in 2025, their focus has shifted to Israel. Shipping experts caution that the ceasefire must be stable for shipping to return to normal in the Red Sea.

References: Arab News, Splash247

Source: Maritime Shipping News