The largest shipping companies in the world, including Maersk, IP Muller and Hapag Lloyd, today denied reports that they are holding negotiations with the Houthis that would allow their ships to sail in the Red Sea without being a target for attacks by the Yemeni rebels.
News of a possible deal led to a drop in the shares of these companies since such an agreement means a drop in shipping prices.
The reports came from a Danish source (AP Muller is a Danish company) and according to them meetings held with the Houthis already led to an agreement in principle on "safe passage". However, the Danish publication did not specify the names of the companies involved nor what it relied on.
According to the report, in exchange for the safe passage that the global companies will receive from the Houthis, they will undertake not to operate in the Israeli market.