Thousands of Yemenis crowded the capital Sanaa Friday to express their support for the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who say they will maintain pressure on Israel despite the imminent Gaza ceasefire.

Yemen's Houthi rebels welcomed news of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza even as a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was reported to be holding up Israeli approval of the long-awaited ceasefire agreement.

The leader of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said their attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea and against Israel will continue into the start of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas remains the dominant Palestinian power in Gaza even after 15 months of Israeli bombardment, holding sway in displacement camps and refusing to surrender.

Mysterious airstrip appears A new airstrip is nearing completion on Abd al-Kuri Island in Yemen, with satellite images indicating significant construction activity. The runway, which appears to be built by the United Arab Emirates (UAE),

The leader of Yemen's Houthis said on Thursday that the Iran-aligned group would monitor the implementation of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the war in Gaza and continue its attacks on vessels or Israel if it is breached.

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels threatened on Thursday to keep up their attacks if Israel did not respect the recently announced ceasefire in its war against Hamas.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas may not spell the end of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Middle East, regional security experts said. The Yemen-based militant group, which has menaced the waters of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, may only temporarily halt attacks on vessels.

Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire on Wednesday, leading to speculation that the Yemen-based Houthis — who started attacking commercial ships in late 2023 ostensibly in retaliation for Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip — might call off the broadsides for good.

"We announce that we will suspend our military operations against [Israel]," the Nujaba Movement's leader said.

The agreement follows months of on-off negotiations brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with the backing of the US.

The U.S.-proposed Gaza ceasefire deal, as presented, would result in a six-week ceasefire along, a limited exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the war-torn Palestinian territory in the first phase.