News - Yemen: Former Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem stated that Yemen has succeeded in filling the strategic void left by Arab regimes, effectively creating pressure and a form of deterrence against the Zionist occupation at a time when the official Arab position has been absent from the scene.

In an interview with Arab Journal, Abdessalem affirmed that Yemen has also managed to exert immense pressure on the occupying entity, whether through the blockade of its maritime shipping or through sustained missile strikes deep into the Zionist entity.

He pointed out that all Palestinians and Arabs feel grateful for Yemen’s courageous and honorable stance — a stance taken by the Yemen of Arabism and Islam on their behalf in defense of besieged and afflicted Gaza. This, he added, has sparked a glimmer of hope among Palestinians and Arabs, affirming that the spirit of Arab and Islamic solidarity and brotherhood remains alive and strong.

The former Tunisian foreign minister emphasized that what further strengthens Yemen’s position is the widespread support and approval it receives from the Arab and Islamic public, who overwhelmingly stand in favor of the Palestinian cause.

Since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023, Yemen has emerged as a prominent actor expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause. In a significant shift from previous Arab silence, Yemen has taken assertive steps including targeting Israeli-linked maritime routes in the Red Sea, a move that has drawn both international attention and regional support.

This assertiveness comes amid a perceived retreat or normalization trend by several Arab regimes, leaving a strategic vacuum in terms of effective Arab response to the ongoing aggression in Gaza. Yemen’s stance has been framed by many commentators in the region as a revival of the Arab-Islamic axis of resistance, with popular Arab opinion increasingly voicing admiration for such bold positions.

Yemen's operations stepping in to defend Palestine has resonated across various Arab and Islamic populations, especially as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. While such actions have drawn criticism from Western powers and military responses from the US and UK, they have simultaneously bolstered Yemen's image among pro-Palestinian audiences.