Why Houthis Refuse to End War

Houthi militants patrol a street in Hodeidah | Reuters
Houthi militants patrol a street in Hodeidah | Reuters
TT
20

Why Houthis Refuse to End War

Houthi militants patrol a street in Hodeidah | Reuters
Houthi militants patrol a street in Hodeidah | Reuters

Political analysts believe that Houthi coup militias are fearful of allowing peace in war-torn Yemen because it would herald the group’s end.

“Any armed ideological group thrives on war,” political analyst Lutfi Noman said, pointing out that the fate of Houthis is closely tied to the war enduring.

“They (Houthis) benefit from crippling peace and for it to only be achieved under their own conditions,” Noman explained.

Houthis took over control of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on September 21, 2014. Overrunning the city with the power of arms, they took advantage of the fragility of state institutions after the February 2011 revolution.

“War is an investment opportunity for most of the belligerents who do not consider the public interest. Peace, on the other hand, does not bring those parties the benefit, interest, influence, and power that wars provide and bring them,” Noman noted.

Over the past years, Houthis have revoked more than 70 agreements signed with other Yemeni parties. The group is notorious for not upholding their pledges.

The Stockholm Agreement, for example, is in danger of collapsing because Houthis have resumed military escalation in Hodeidah during the past days.

Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government had signed the agreement in the Swedish capital in late 2018.

Political analyst and writer Hamdan al-Alyi clarified that Houthis fear peace because it would entail a critical shift in power.

“Ensuring the rights and freedoms of Yemenis like the right to education and the freedom of belief would pull the rug from under Houthi feet,” Ayli added, saying that Houthis only thrive amid public poverty and ignorance.

Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, is working on convincing the Yemeni parties of a draft joint declaration in which he put forward proposals for a comprehensive ceasefire, political and economic measures, and the launch of new peace talks.

Griffiths, however, clashed with the intransigence of the Houthis who rejected his proposals more than once.



Palestinians Hold Mixed Views as France Prepares to Recognize State

 Protesters hold a Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Santiago, Chile July 25, 2025. (Reuters)
Protesters hold a Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Santiago, Chile July 25, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
20

Palestinians Hold Mixed Views as France Prepares to Recognize State

 Protesters hold a Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Santiago, Chile July 25, 2025. (Reuters)
Protesters hold a Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Santiago, Chile July 25, 2025. (Reuters)

Palestinians expressed mixed opinions Friday after French President Emmanuel Macron said he would recognize a Palestinian state, with enthusiasm mitigated by the world’s failure to stem suffering in Gaza.

“We hope it will be implemented, and we hope that most or all countries around the world will follow France’s lead in recognizing the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state,” said Nabil Abdel Razek, a resident of Ramallah, home to the Palestinian Authority.

Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the PA was intended to be a building bloc toward the establishment of a state.

At a newsagent in the central square of the West Bank city, several front-page headlines mentioned President Emmanuel Macron’s late Thursday evening announcement.

“All of these decisions not only affirm the rights of the Palestinian people, but also contribute to changing the violent reality in the region and lead to greater stability,” said Ahmed Ghoneim, a political activist, as he headed off to a demonstration in solidarity with Gaza.

Ghoneim said he also hopes France’s move will inspire other European countries, given that at least 142 of the 193 UN member states recognize a Palestinian state, according to an AFP tally.

But analysts are more cautious.

“The question for Palestinians is what will France do NOW about Israel starving them in Gaza,” Nour Odeh, a political commentator, wrote on X.

Others also agreed the main issue for Palestinians is Gaza.

“What France should have recognized is the genocide and taken measures to end it and end the occupation,” said Ines Abdel Razek, co-director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD).

In an interview with AFP, she said France should cut relations with Israel and impose a trade embargo.

“An example of a brave gesture is the Colombian president asking his army to block boats transporting energy and arms to Israel,” she said.

While saying France’s promise is just “symbolic,” Samer Sinijlawi, another political activist, noted Macron’s call for elections in the Palestinian territories and said this “brings us hope.”