Questions Grow Over Mysterious Boat Incident in Eilat Bay

Military correspondent Shai Levy is questioning why, two weeks after a maritime breach in the Gulf of Eilat, there is still no clear answer about the vessel involved. He said, “If after two weeks they do not know how to answer this, then someone in the security establishment is not telling the whole truth, and אולי גם בונה נרטיב,” suggesting that the public may not be hearing the full story.

According to Levy, the incident, which was not disclosed in real time, involved what was initially described as an attempt to enter Israeli waters by a jet ski or an unmanned craft from Jordan. Navy forces spotted the vessel after it crossed the eastern border and fired at it, after which it turned back toward Jordan. Levy called it “a very strange story,” and noted that the military is being praised for the ship crew’s response.

New reporting says the security establishment is now considering that the craft may not have been carrying anyone at all. One theory is that it was used to collect intelligence or to test the forces’ response, while another is that it may have been intended to carry explosives. The incident was also examined alongside Jordanian information from the time, which said a rider on the craft had been wounded by the gunfire.

However, later checks found no indication that anyone was actually on board, raising the possibility that the Jordanian report was mistaken or false. Levy also pointed to the navy’s advanced detection systems, saying that if they still cannot determine what happened, then “someone in the security establishment is not telling the whole truth.” Officials are also examining whether the incident was part of hostile activity linked to Houthi-affiliated actors, possibly as preparation for future attacks in the Eilat area.