Houthis exploit the Palestinian cause for their advantage‏

The Yemeni government accused the Iran-backed Houthi militias of abusing the Palestinian cause to recruit more members to fight the Yemeni people and collect funds for their war effort.

Information Minister Moammar al-Eyrani warned the people against “falling victim to the Houthis’ exploitation and misinformation.”

In official statements, he said the Houthis were abusing the “Palestinian cause and tragedy of the Palestinian people in occupied territories to make political and financial gains, prolong the war in Yemen and continue to kill Yemenis.”

He added that the Houthis were trying win over the sympathy of the Yemenis over the developments in Jerusalem and the occupied territories and the suffering of the Palestinians to organize fundraisers to finance their war effort and recruit more members.

The terrorist Houthis actions against the legitimate state are no different than the practices of Israeli occupiers of Palestinian territories, he continued.

He said the Houthis and Israelis are similar in their attacks against residential areas, killing of civilians, including women and children in cold blood, destruction of homes and crackdown on religious freedoms.

The Houthis have in recent days intensified their recruitment campaigns, mainly targeting the youths, in ten Yemeni provinces under their control under the pretext of “fighting for Palestine”. In reality, the youths will be recruited to their war effort in the Marib province and other fronts.

Residents in the Ibb province confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis have carried out such campaigns in several villages under the false slogan of “championing the Palestinian cause and liberating the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Many locals, however, did not fall for the lies and mocked the Houthis for their ridiculous slogan and false claims, added the residents.

The militias often exploit major causes in the Arab world to manipulate and deceive the Yemenis and divert their attention from the real crimes and violations they are committing everyday in the war-torn country.

For years, the Houthis have misled their followers in Saada and other regions into believing that they are fighting Israel.