Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has released the crew of a cargo ship more than a year after its fighters hijacked the vessel in the Red Sea. The Galaxy Leader’s 25-strong crew, consisting of 17 Filipinos, three Ukrainians, two Bulgarians, two Mexicans, and a Romanian, has been handed over to mediators from Oman, as reported by the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV.
The crew's release follows the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, providing relief to Palestinians in Gaza after 15 months of conflict. The Houthis had previously stated that they would only cease their Red Sea campaign once Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
The crew had been held captive since November 2023 when armed Houthis, carrying Yemeni and Palestinian flags, boarded the ship off the Yemeni coast. These attacks led to the suspension of transit through the Red Sea by major shipping and oil companies, impacting one of the world's crucial maritime trade routes.
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, expressed profound relief at the crew's release, emphasizing the importance of collective diplomacy and dialogue to protect innocent seafarers from becoming victims of geopolitical tensions.
United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, welcomed the reports of the Houthis ending the arbitrary detention of the crew after 14 months. The Galaxy Leader, sailing under the flag of the Bahamas and primarily used for global vehicle transportation, was one of many vessels targeted by the Houthis during their Red Sea operations.
Filipino foreign affairs official Eduardo de Vega had previously noted the challenges in influencing the Houthis, stressing the need for an end to hostilities in Gaza. The Filipino Foreign Ministry has been approached for comment on the release of its citizens.
The Houthis, a key player in Yemen's decade-long civil war, significantly impacted conflicts in the Middle East over the past year. In addition to targeting ships, the Houthis launched missile attacks at Israel, with most being intercepted by Israeli air defense systems. Israel responded with airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, supported by the United States and the United Kingdom, both allies of Israel.
