Yemen’s Houthis have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader ship after holding them for more than a year off the Red Sea coast. The crew, consisting of individuals from various countries, were handed over to Oman in coordination with the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The release of the crew is seen as a gesture of solidarity with Gaza. The Galaxy Leader was seized by Houthi forces in November 2023 and taken to Hodeidah port in north Yemen. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has warned of intervention if Israel violates the ceasefire agreement. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen welcomed the release of the crew and urged the Houthis to continue positive steps. The Houthis have carried out numerous attacks on ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s actions in Gaza, causing disruptions to global shipping. The International Maritime Organization and International Chamber of Shipping have called for support for seafarers and shipping to prevent innocent individuals from being caught in wider geopolitical tensions. The release of the Galaxy Leader crew is seen as a positive step, but further actions are needed to ensure the safety and security of maritime activities in the region.
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Houthis from Yemen release crew of ship detained for over a year due to Israel-Hamas conflict.
