Israel presses Europe to label Houthis as terror group
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar cites escalating attacks and regional destabilization in urgent diplomatic push.
![Avi Nachmani Avi Nachmani](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2024/12/11/7ca03a80-b7d4-11ef-a276-eba2a135109a__h450_w450.jpeg)
![Gideon Sa'ar speaking](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=30,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2024/12/24/581ee090-c1d8-11ef-b0b0-0707bc34b4b0__h600_w900.png)
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has instructed Israel’s diplomatic representatives in Europe to advocate for recognizing the Houthi rebel group as a terror organization. This move comes in response to a significant increase in Houthi missile attacks targeting Israeli territory.
The Foreign Ministry highlighted the Houthis' ongoing assault on Israel, which has included hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as UAVs, since October 7. "The Houthi leadership has publicly declared their intent to continue attacking Israel and obstructing the free passage of vessels in critical maritime routes," the statement read. It also noted that dozens of European-flagged cruise vessels have been among the targets, with over 100 ships attacked in the region since October 7.
Additionally, the Ministry pointed to the Houthis' close ties with the Iranian regime, which has provided them with financial, military, and operational support, further destabilizing the region. The Houthis are already classified as a terror group by several countries, including the US, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Israel.
Sa’ar emphasized the global threat posed by the Houthis, saying, "They represent a danger not only to Israel but to the entire region and the world. Their disruption of one of the busiest maritime pathways is a direct challenge to international freedom of movement and world order. The immediate step is for the international community to designate them a terror organization."
* Arutz 7 contributed to this article.
0 Comments
![Tal's child Yahel Shoham (3) after being released without him Tal's child Yahel Shoham (3) after being released without him](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/f8420960-ee26-11ef-b23e-bdb1cf37c90a__h400_w640.webp)
"Why are other dads coming home and not ours?"
"When is dad coming home?" Heartbreaking questions Tal Shoham's children wrote about his captivity
![Hadar Goldin ob"m. Hadar Goldin ob"m.](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/97de09d0-ee20-11ef-b23e-bdb1cf37c90a__h259_w500.jpg)
A Proper Jewish Burial
Israeli source: Hadar Goldin ob"m to be returned to Israel next week
![The 6 hostages due for release this Shabbat The 6 hostages due for release this Shabbat](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/72babb70-ee1c-11ef-b23e-bdb1cf37c90a__h899_w1599.jpg)
List of the 6 hostages published
Revealed: These are the 6 Living Hostages due to be released on Shabbat
![Families of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip and supporters attend a silent protest calling for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, outside the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, February 17, 2025 Families of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip and supporters attend a silent protest calling for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, outside the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, February 17, 2025](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/5765a310-ee14-11ef-b23e-bdb1cf37c90a__h5464_w8192.jpg)
Heartbreaking news
Hamas: These 4 slain hostages will be released on Shabbat
![Hostage Tal Shoham with his family before October 7 Hostage Tal Shoham with his family before October 7](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/c1e3eae0-ee18-11ef-b23e-bdb1cf37c90a__h662_w992.webp)
He is finally coming home to his children!
Hostage Tal Shoham to be released this Shabbat, family reveals
![Niva Wenkert, mother of Israeli hostage Omer Wenkert attends a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament on September 16, 2024. Niva Wenkert, mother of Israeli hostage Omer Wenkert attends a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament on September 16, 2024.](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/a2e42bf0-ee0e-11ef-b23e-bdb1cf37c90a__h2689_w4033.jpg)
Thank G-d!
Hostage Omer Wenkert will go free on Shabbat
![Ziv Abud, the girlfriend of Eliya Cohen whose held hostage in the Gaza Strip attends a special committee for public inquiries at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on December 3, 2024. Ziv Abud, the girlfriend of Eliya Cohen whose held hostage in the Gaza Strip attends a special committee for public inquiries at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on December 3, 2024.](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/64eac360-ee0c-11ef-b23e-bdb1cf37c90a__h3746_w5619.jpg)
Bring them all home!
Hostage Eliya Cohen's girlfriend Ziv confirms: Eliya is coming home on Shabbat!
![Al-Qassam Brigades hand over Israeli hostage Keith Siegel to the Red Cross, as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, February 1, 2025 Al-Qassam Brigades hand over Israeli hostage Keith Siegel to the Red Cross, as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, February 1, 2025](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/02/8d8b9470-e146-11ef-8104-edda4fefae5f__h3840_w5760.jpg)
Major breakthrough in hostage deal
BREAKING: Hamas to return 6 living Hostages, 4 bodies by Shabbat
Absolutely devastating
Hamas: Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas are not alive; we will return their bodies on Thursday
![IDF soldiers on the Israeli Syrian border IDF soldiers on the Israeli Syrian border](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/97da8400-edf7-11ef-8920-8dddeba15fcf__h799_w1200.webp)
51 years old
Historic Yom Kippur War inscriptions discovered in abandoned Syrian building
![People enjoy the snow in Kibbutz El Rom, in the Golan Heights, Northern Israel, February 06, 2025 People enjoy the snow in Kibbutz El Rom, in the Golan Heights, Northern Israel, February 06, 2025](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/345b5a60-edf4-11ef-8920-8dddeba15fcf__h3335_w5003.jpg)
Bring it on!
Cold front 'Coral' approaches Israel: When will Jerusalem see snow?
![YSL YSL](https://images.jfeed.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://images.jfeed.com/2025/02/18/72a9afd0-eded-11ef-8920-8dddeba15fcf__h3004_w4535.jpg)
Disappointing, but not surprising