Israel presses Europe to label Houthis as terror group

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.