The dire situation in Yemen, where millions of Muslims are enduring severe hardships due to ongoing conflict and famine, has taken an even more complex turn. The Iran-backed Houthi movement, amidst this humanitarian disaster, has extended its military aggression to Israel, over 1000 miles away, to align with Hamas. This move by the Houthis was firmly met by the Israeli military, which neutralized the threat posed by incoming drones and missiles near Eilat.

Yahya Sarea, the Houthi spokesperson, declared in no uncertain terms that their forces have initiated multiple operations against Israeli targets. This bold declaration and the actions that followed are not just a significant escalation in the regional conflict but also a potential catalyst drawing Iran closer to the fray of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The juxtaposition of the grave humanitarian plight within Yemen against the backdrop of the Houthis' military endeavors abroad strikes a dissonant chord, raising critical questions about priorities and the broader impact of these actions on the already suffering Yemeni population.

In a stark contradiction, as the Houthi Islamists focus their military efforts on confronting Israel, their own nation of Yemen continues to suffer an escalating humanitarian crisis. The Yemeni people endure the daily worsening conditions of conflict, particularly with the Saudi coalition, alongside the spread of cholera, starvation, and increasing mortality rates. Yet, the Houthis seem to have placed a higher priority on launching attacks over 1300 miles away, offering their support to Palestinian factions while their own compatriots face dire circumstances.

This incongruity is especially pronounced considering that since their capture of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014, the Houthis have maintained control over large areas of the country. The decision to focus resources on a distant conflict raises profound questions about the Houthis' commitment to the welfare of their own people, who are caught in the crossfire of ongoing strife and destitution. This situation casts a shadow on the group's national and religious obligations, spotlighting the grim reality of Yemen's domestic afflictions.

The complexities of the Yemen conflict are further compounded by the fragile negotiations for a ceasefire involving the Saudi-led coalition, which includes eight Sunni-majority nations: Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Despite these ongoing diplomatic efforts, the Houthis have escalated tensions by killing four Saudi soldiers, thus undermining the potential for peace. This defiance against Saudi Arabia, coupled with the new front they have opened against Israel, shows the group's willingness to engage in a multifaceted conflict that disregards the severe repercussions for Yemeni civilians.

These actions by the Houthis have not only challenged the coalition's attempts at stability but also have widened the geographical scope of regional conflict. With the recent attack on Israel at the Red Sea coast, the Israel-Hamas war has now extended to a third front. Israel, already engaged with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon to the north, now faces an additional adversary at its southernmost border, testing its defense strategies and further stressing the already tense situation in the Middle East.

Humanitarian crisis in Yemen

The humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen continues to deteriorate, as depicted in a harrowing UNICEF report. An overwhelming 23.4 million individuals, of which 12.9 million are children, are desperately in need of humanitarian aid and protection. The protracted conflict has ravaged the country, causing widespread displacement and facilitating the resurgence of infectious diseases like cholera, measles, and diphtheria.

Compounded by climate shocks, the dire situation is exacerbated by a near-collapse of the country's health infrastructure. The report highlights that over 17.8 million people, including a staggering 9.2 million children, are deprived of essential water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Health care in Yemen has become a luxury, with only half of the health facilities functional, leaving 21.9 million people, bereft of necessary medical care. Furthermore, the nation faces a standstill in immunization efforts, with 28% of children under one year of age remaining unvaccinated. The convergence of these factors creates a grim tableau of Yemen's plight, underscoring the urgent need for a concerted global response to alleviate the suffering of its people.

Amidst the already dire health crisis in Yemen, a recent ReliefWeb report reveals a troubling statistic: since March 2023, Yemen has recorded the world's second-highest number of measles cases. This alarming surge in measles is occurring while the Houthi authorities in Northern Yemen continue to restrict access to several life-saving vaccines, including the measles vaccine.

The relentless nature of Yemen's health challenges is further underscored by the enduring cholera outbreak that began in 2016. Over several years, this epidemic has claimed thousands of lives, with a staggering 3,997 cholera-related deaths reported between October 2016 and April 2021. Adding to the urgency is a UNICEF report from 2020, which highlighted that over 5 million children under the age of five in Yemen were at an increased risk of cholera and Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD).

These figures not only speak to the acute medical needs of the Yemeni population but also to the devastating impact of ongoing conflict and governance challenges on public health. With vaccination efforts hindered and diseases rampant, the plight of Yemen's most vulnerable—its children—remains at the forefront of humanitarian concerns.

The crisis in Yemen extends beyond disease to a rampant and devastating issue of hunger. Despite the abundance of weaponry, the country faces a stark contrast in the form of acute food scarcity. The World Food Programme's (WFP) recent findings are startling, revealing that over 17 million Yemenis are grappling with food insecurity, a situation that persists even amidst international humanitarian assistance.

The WFP report sheds light on the dire nutritional situation of Yemen's children, placing them among the highest in the world for malnutrition rates. The depth of the crisis is further illustrated by the fact that one-third of Yemeni families have substantial gaps in their diets, with nutritious foods like legumes, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and meat being rarities. This nutritional deficit is particularly acute among women and children; 1.3 million women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding, along with 2.2 million children under five, are in dire need of treatment for acute malnutrition. These figures not only reflect the immediate humanitarian needs but also hint at the long-term impact this crisis will have on the country's future generations.

The UN's efforts to mediate a truce last year did offer a glimmer of hope, slightly easing the conflict in Yemen between the Houthis, Iran's proxy, and the Saudi-led coalition. However, the toll on the youngest and most vulnerable has been devastating. UNICEF reported in December that since the conflict's inception in 2015, 11,000 children have been killed or maimed — averaging four child victims daily.

This conflict underscores a harsh reality where ideological battles often overshadow the immediate needs of a nation's people. The Houthi Islamists' apparent prioritization of their struggle against Israel and their animosity towards Jews seems to supersede the urgency of addressing the suffering of their fellow Yemenis. This stance is contradictory to their religious imperatives, which they seemingly disregard when it comes to the welfare of Yemen's Muslim populace. The Zaydi Shiite group's choice to engage in a proxy war, aligning with the "axis of resistance," raises profound questions about the true priorities of Islamist factions when their own countrymen are in dire need of peace, stability, and the dignity of a life free from the horrors of war.

The "axis of resistance," as it is termed, encompasses a network of alliances that include various Sunni and Shia groups and governments across the Middle East, such as those in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Iraq. These groups and governments have different levels of connection and commitment to each other and to Iran. The Houthis' foray into the Israel-Hamas conflict could be seen as an attempt to solidify their position within this alliance. It may also be a strategy to garner domestic support by aligning with widespread Yemeni opposition to Israel and the United States, which supports Israel in its defense against attacks from Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States.

The actions and priorities of the Houthi movement in Yemen, alongside the tactics employed by Hamas in Gaza, have drawn criticism from various international actors for their approaches to conflict. Critics argue that these groups prioritize their campaigns over the welfare of the Muslim populations they represent or govern. The use of civilians in conflict zones, particularly the allegations of using them as human shields, has been a point of contention and condemnation in the international community. The criticism suggests that the Islamist groups' fight against what they term as "infidels" is placed above the safety and well-being of Muslim civilians. Such actions and the refusal to engage in governance and assume responsibility for the welfare of their people are seen as indicative of the groups' broader approach to their political and ideological struggles.

In a statement that has raised eyebrows and stirred debate, Hamas leader Abu Mazruk, in a recent interview, shifted the onus of protection for the Gazan population to international organizations. He highlighted that with 75% of Gaza's inhabitants being refugees, it should fall to entities like the UN to take up the mantle of their safety and welfare, a stance that sidesteps Hamas' governing responsibilities in the territory it controls. This remark has been perceived by some as an attempt to deflect responsibility, while it spotlights the complex interplay between local governance and international humanitarian efforts in conflict zones.