The Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) in Yemen is targeting an unnamed group of 64 shipowners with vessels “heading to Israeli occupation ports,” warning them of consequences.
The HOCC announced on Wednesday that 64 shipping companies have been sanctioned, and their vessels banned from crossing the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.
In a statement posted to the website of the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), the center explained that it is imposing “sanctions on 64 companies that violated the naval blockade decision against the Israeli enemy.”
The statement added that since the blockade began, the center contacted the shipping companies whose vessels violated the blockade decision, notifying them that sanctions were imposed due to their ships’ non-compliance.
Despite receiving “pre-penalty notices,” these vessels proceeded to enter “Israeli occupation ports,” prompting the imposition of sanctions, according to HOCC.
The center noted that as part of its efforts to help companies avoid sanction risks, it continues to send pre-penalty notices to shipping companies with vessels heading to Israeli occupation ports, warning them of consequences for violating the naval blockade.
It clarified that vessels linked to the 64 companies who have received notices “are subject to targeting in any area within reach of Yemeni Armed Forces.”
The Center held the companies “fully responsible for all consequences resulting from these sanctions,” stressing that “sanctions will continue against all companies violating the naval blockade regardless of their nationality.”
The HOCC also explained that the goal of the sanctions is to put pressure on the Israeli entity to halt its aggression and lift the siege on Gaza, further noting that shipping companies have already begun severing ties with the sanctioned firms and are excluding Israel from their commercial operations.
HOCC describes itself as “affiliated with the Office of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and under his supervision, with legal personality and headquarters in the capital Sana’a.”
HOCC claims to “contribute to mitigating the humanitarian effects and repercussions on civilians and civilian objects in the theater of military operations (air, sea and land)….through adherence to Islamic teachings, compliance with international humanitarian law and other relevant international laws and conventions in a manner that does not conflict with or harm the interests of the Republic of Yemen.”
