According to data and sources cited by Reuters, the number of ships in Israeli ports is increasing, while operations continue at most terminals, as the army prepares for a ground attack on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in response to an attack in which the group’s fighters rampaged through Israeli cities a week ago, shooting civilians and taking dozens of hostages, in the worst attack on civilians in Israel’s history.

Israel faced heavy rocket fire, including in the south of the country, which led to the closure of the smaller port of Ashkelon, which is the closest terminal to Gaza.

The port of Ashdod imposed restrictions on the transportation of hazardous materials, which meant slower transit.

In its latest statement on its website, the port said it continued to operate as normal “even in wartime,” adding that it was ready to continue supplying the Israeli economy with everything it needed “around the clock” to provide for the population. does not feel a shortage.

At least three cargo ships carrying goods bound for Ashdod stopped in nearby waters, and three more vessels, including an oil tanker and a container ship, were heading to the port, data from tracking provider MarineTraffic showed on Sunday.

According to MarineTraffic data, about 13 ships, including cargo ships, container ships and bulk carriers, were at anchor in the port of Ashdod. According to separate reports, at least three vessels with solid cargoes were waiting near Haifa in northern Israel.

Haifa and Ashdod are the largest and most important ports in Israel.

The Port of Haifa, which handles several cargo segments, including solid bulk cargoes, said on Sunday that it was operating around the clock as well as during weekends.

“Activities were consolidated as much as possible, within operational and human capacity, to receive cargo of all types, including cargo that was diverted from the direction of Ashdod and unloaded at the port of Haifa,” the statement said.

Container shipping major MSC said last week that waiting times in Ashdod had increased due to increased security checks and labor shortages, while at Israeli ports “circumstances can change at short notice.”

Israel’s economy ministry said separately on Thursday that there was a labor shortage, making it difficult to transport and replenish supplies due to rising consumption, although there was no shortage of supplies, and urged people not to stockpile food.

“There will be zero tolerance for price increases,” the ministry said.

The average waiting time for ships to dock in Israel was much longer than in other ports.

In recent years, the government has privatized its ports and opened new ones in an effort to increase competition and efficiency.

Military insurance rates for the Marine Corps have increased more than tenfold since last week’s attacks, and some insurers have been revising coverage for Ashdod, although Haifa remains unscathed, industry sources said.

While the ports of Ashdod and Haifa account for only 0.4 percent of the world’s container volume, any expansion of hostilities beyond Israel’s border could pose a risk to vital shipping barriers in the region, according to online logistics platform Container xChange.

“The Suez Canal, a critical waterway for various commercial vessels, including container ships, may experience disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz, a highway for the transportation of oil and gas, may be affected in a similar way. However, the extent of these consequences will largely depend on the scale and duration of the conflict,” said Container xChange CEO Christian Roeloffs.

The Marshall Islands Registry, one of the most important shipping flags in the world, last week raised the security level for Israel’s ports and its territorial waters to the highest level.

“The threat of collateral damage to commercial vessels has increased significantly. “Ships with ties to Israel or the United States may be at increased risk of attack in Israeli territorial waters, the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea,” the registry said.