The proposal was supported by Bahrain, Japan, Panama, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, calling for a safe maritime corridor to evacuate 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict. The proposal was made at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) governing council in London. It was submitted to help evacuate stranded seafarers and was backed by the United States. At least seven merchant sailors have been killed due to this conflict, and IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez urged deescalating the situation. The United States has asked nations to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, which normally transports a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas.