Over a year ago, in November 2023, an NYK Line shipping company cargo ship was hijacked by Yemen’s Houthi terror organization. Since then, a threat in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has prevented ships from docking at Eilat port.
Starting in December 2023, roll-on/roll-off ships (carrying wheeled cargo) stopped visiting the port entirely. The number of bulk carrier ships (carrying materials like potash) initially dropped from six per month to just one or two, with some months seeing no ships arriving at all.
Eilat Port employs 120 workers, including its management. With no solution found to retain workers and no state support, proposals to transfer employees to Ashdod and Haifa ports were unsuccessful. By the end of summer, the port's management placed about 30 employees on unpaid leave and reduced the work hours of 20 others to two-thirds of their positions.
Moshe Azulay, chair of the Histadrut Labor Federation's (Israel's national trade union center) Eilat branch, explained, "Bulk carrier ships occasionally arrive, about once every two or three months. The ship is unloaded and then it leaves. The port is effectively closed. Importers don’t want to pay high costs. They can go through the Suez Canal — it’s an economic issue.”
“There’s no ongoing activity. We managed to keep the workers employed for a year and two months. Eventually, management began flexing its muscles, claiming they don’t have money to pay salaries. A decision was made to place employees on unpaid leave because the alternative was layoffs,” he added.
“The Finance Ministry is involved in discussions with the Histadrut's transportation division. We hope to reach an agreement soon so all employees can return to work and receive financial aid from the ministry to cover their wages. But the workers will also need to contribute their share."
Azulay, himself a resident of Eilat, described the contrast in the city. "The city operates 24/7 and hotel occupancy is at its peak. The city is bustling but the port is desolate," he said. "It’s disheartening to see the port inactive when it used to be a strategic employment hub.”
“We all know each other in Eilat and are aware of the crisis. We’re doing everything we can, but there’s a serious problem because there’s no work to do. While the port still provides services to security forces and isn’t entirely shut down, many facets are inactive.” He explained.
"Eilat Port is a crucial, significant asset that directly and indirectly employs hundreds of workers. It serves as Israel’s southern gateway to Asia, Africa and the Gulf states and acts as a land bridge to Europe," said Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri.
He stressed that the decline in port activity harms the city’s economy, which has already endured multiple crises in recent years — from the closure of Sde Dov Airport to the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Gaza, during which the city paid a heavy price in the early months and only began recovering recently.
"For over a year, I’ve repeatedly warned about the implications of closing an international shipping route and the security and economic consequences of Houthi missile launches, as well as those by pro-Iranian militias from Iraq and Syria. I’ve demanded threats against the city and the country be removed," Lankri said.
He highlighted the port's importance for regional economic security, particularly with Gulf states that signed peace agreements with Israel. "Successive Israeli governments have declared Eilat a vital strategic asset. I’d add that a strong Eilat isn’t just a local interest — it’s a national one. Eilat is Israel’s southern gateway and it must remain open and secure."
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Lankri also expressed his gratitude to lawmakers and the IDF for their management of the war and its achievements. "These efforts are laying the groundwork for a new and hopeful reality in the Middle East.”
“A decisive victory will, of course, include the return of hostages, but it won’t be complete without removing the Houthi threat to Eilat, which endangers the city’s security and economy. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait must be reopened and the additional threat posed by the Jordanian border must also be addressed,” he added.