The concluding statement of the Religious Scholars Conference in Yemen underscored the religious obligation to support Gaza, calling for "Muslim unity, cohesion, and the rejection of divisions and differences."
     
The statement also called on governments to "take practical measures against the Israeli enemy," urging those that normalized ties with "Israel" to "cut ties and cease normalization with the killers of children, women, and violators of human rights."

Similarly, it called on governments and people to "lift the siege on Gaza, deliver aid, and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people."

صنعاء الآن
بدء اعمال مؤتمر علماء اليمن حول نصرة اخواننا في غزة بعوان ( علماء اليمن ووجوب نصرة المستضعفين في غزة وفلسطين )#شهداء_من_اجل_فلسطين #شهداء_على_طريق_القدس #طوفات_الاقصى pic.twitter.com/UuxVwRm2Jh

— رضوان المحيا (@Redwanmohia) January 1, 2024

The Religious Scholars Conference kicked off today in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, in an act of solidarity with Gaza.

Eerie Arab and Islamic silence

Dozens of scholars from different Yemeni provinces gathered to attend the conference. The head of the Central Committee of the National Campaign to Support Al-Aqsa  scholar Mohammad Muftah addressed the conference, denouncing "the eerie Arab and Islamic silence in the face of the heinous and brutal crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people in Gaza" and "the support of US leaders who proudly identify themselves as Zionists and express their unwavering backing for the enemy entity."

The Mufti of Al-Bayda governorate, Sheikh Hussein Al-Haddar, also stated that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is "an issue for Muslims," holding the UK and the US responsible for the massacres in Gaza.

It is worth noting that Yemen has stood up for Gaza in its ongoing battle against the Israeli occupation since October 7. Throughout this period, the Yemeni Armed Forces launched a series of military operations in the Red Sea targeting Israeli vessels en route to "Israel" and imposing a maritime blockade on the port of Eilat, not to mention launching drones and ballistic missiles toward the Israeli occupation entity.

Dive deeper

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced, on Sunday, the martyrdom of a number of its naval forces, who were killed by US forces while carrying out "their duty" in preventing Israeli and "Israel"-bound ships from crossing the Red Sea.

Along with the same statement, spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree also announced that the army's navy units successfully struck with three naval missiles Maersk Hangzhou, which was heading toward the occupation entity.

Enforced equations

Sanaa declared last month that it will commence operations against Israeli and Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea in support of the people in Gaza until the war on the Strip stops.

The enforced decision compelled many major shipping companies to adopt significantly lengthier sailing routes, leading to increased costs, insurance premiums, and the delivery time of cargo heading to the occupation entity.

The matter got worse for "Israel" after the Yemeni Armed Forces announced a new equation following a US veto on a ceasefire in Gaza at the UNSC meeting, which added that ships heading to "Israel", regardless of their nationality, to the ban, and expanded the scope to include the Arabian Sea alongside the Red Sea.

Earlier this month, the US announced the launching of Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect ships headed to "Israel". However, major shipping companies announced they would not resume navigation through the Red Sea over security fears.

Read next: Yemen targets 'Israel', vessel in Red Sea as US-led coalition watches