Yemen’s Houthi rebels released the crew of the vessel GALAXY LEADER on 22nd January. The vessel was seized by the Houthis on 19th November 2023.
The crew consisted of 25 individuals, including 17 Filipinos, 2 Mexicans, 2 Bulgarians, 3 Ukrainians, and 1 Romanian, who were released to Oman.
The decision of the release of the crew after 14 months of captivity was reportedly facilitated by Oman. Houthis also commented that this was a gesture of support for Gaza and was coordinated with the ceasefire with Israel. Reports indicate that the Houthis were asked by Hamas for the crew to be released.
International organizations such as the ITF have been asking for the release of the crew for months. The most recent request by the ITF was issued on 20th January 2025, in which they exhorted the Houthis to cease their offensive against International shipping in the Red Sea and to release all detained seafarers.
The GALAXY LEADER is a Bahamas-flagged vessel that was chartered by the Japanese company NYK at the time of its seizure. The Houthis attributed the seizure of the vessel and its crew to the Israeli-linked ownership of its commercial operator, UK-based Ray Car Carriers. Galaxy Maritime, which in turn is owned by Ray Car Carriers, has an Israeli businessman, Abraham Ungar, as a co-owner.
The vessel, along with its crew members, was seized by the Houthis as a part of a larger campaign that it led against international shipping in the Red Sea. Houthi fighters had used a helicopter to land on the vessel and seize the vessel as it was headed from Turkey to India at the time.
Houthis also issued the statement that they would be ceasing their offensive against international shipping in the Red Sea; however, they claimed that they would still attack ships that are associated with Israel.
