Sanaa (South24)

Yemen's Houthis announced today the release of the crew of the ‘Galaxy Leader’ ship, more than a year after they seized the Bahamas-flagged cargo vessel. The Iran-backed militia noted that the move falls within the framework of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

The group said in a statement issued by its Supreme Political Council that the release of the crew was carried out "in coordination with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and with the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman“. They added that the ship's crew of 25 individuals, who belong to different nationalities, had been handed over to the Omani authorities.

The statement confirmed that this step was in support of the ceasefire efforts in Gaza, but did not address the fate of the ship. Houthi media published a video and photos showing the crew leaving Sanaa International Airport.

The UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, welcomed the release of the ship's crew, describing it as a "step in the right direction”, that "puts an end to the arbitrary detention and separation that they and their families endured for more than a year."

The envoy urged the Houthi group to "continue these positive steps on all fronts, including ending all maritime attacks.” He noted that these measures are necessary to create the appropriate atmosphere for the resumption of the political process in Yemen.

The Houthis hijacked the Bahamas-flagged British-owned Galaxy Leader, which is believed to have ties to an Israeli businessman, on November 19, 2023.

The Houthis towed the ship and its crew, largely made up of Filipino sailors, to the port of Al-Salif in Hodeidah Governorate, and organized sight-seeing trips and folk dancing on board the ship.

The group recently announced a partial lifting of its ban on navigation in the Red Sea, in line with the ceasefire agreement on Gaza. However, they said that only ships wholly owned by Israel or flying the Israeli flag would continue to be targeted.