Houthi rebels in Yemen have attacked shipping going through the Bab al-Mandab Strait between Arabia and Africa, connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. The Suez Canal then connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and the Israeli port city of Haifa. It is the most direct shipping route from Japan, China, and South Korea to Europe. Several shipping companies have rerouted their ships around Africa. This will increase the cost of trade between Europe and Asia and Israel and Asia. This could be used to divide the West, led by the Anglo-American Empire, from Israel and increase pressure on Israel to stop bombing Palestinians in Gaza.