Yemeni Houthi group signal potential halt to communication with UN envoy for ‘lack of neutrality’

By Mohammed Sameai and Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​

SANAA, Yemen/ISTANBUL (AA) - The Yemeni Houthi group accused UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, of a "lack of neutrality and bias" in his positions on developments in the Red Sea, hinting of a possible suspension of official communication with him and his office for his "ignoring the Israeli aggression against Yemen and the Gaza Strip."

It came in a statement by the Foreign Ministry of the Houthi government, which is not internationally recognized, published via the SABA news agency that is affiliated with the group, after Grundberg demanded in a statement that the Houthis halt maritime attacks and expressed concerns about the repercussions.

The Foreign Ministry condemned what it considered Grundberg’s "bias" in the statement attributed to him on the situation in the Red Sea, asserting that it "reflects his lack of neutrality."

It added that the envoy’s statement "completely ignored the root causes of the escalation in the Red Sea, namely the genocidal crimes committed by the Zionist entity in Gaza in full view and hearing of the United Nations and the world, which remained passive."

The ministry noted that the UN statement "lacked balance and neutrality," and "was supposed to express concern over the ongoing Zionist aggression against Yemen targeting civilian sites, and should have included a demand for the Zionist entity to stop it."

The statement from the Houthi Foreign Ministry said, "This bias makes it difficult for Sanaa to deal with the Secretary-General’s envoy, whose position requires him to maintain equidistance from all parties to the conflict, not to side with one party at the expense of another."

It also accused the envoy of "continuing negative and biased handling of the Yemeni people’s issue and the American-Zionist aggression against them."

It hinted at the possibility of the Houthi government escalating "beyond merely suspending official communication with the envoy and his office," without clarifying the nature of the escalation.

Grundberg expressed "deep concern” on Thursday in a statement about the recent escalation by the Houthis in the Red Sea, including an attack that led to the sinking of the commercial vessel, Eternity C, on July 8, resulting in deaths and injuries.

It added that "an unspecified number of people remain missing from the crew of the targeted ship," and it wished for "their immediate safe return."

Grundberg also had concerns about a previous attack and the subsequent sinking of the commercial ship, Magic Seas, on July 6, urging the Houthis to cease attacks that could escalate tensions inside Yemen and its surroundings.