Crew Members of Seized Ship Freed by Houthi Militants

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The crew of the Galaxy Leader, a Bahamas-flagged commercial ship, has been released by Houthi militants over a year after they seized the vessel off the Yemeni Red Sea coast. The handover took place on January 22, 2025, in a move reportedly linked to a recently established ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

According to Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV, the release of the 25 crew members was coordinated with Omani authorities and represents solidarity with Gaza amid the ceasefire agreement. The crew includes nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, as confirmed by Galaxy Maritime, the ship's owner.

The Galaxy Leader was commandeered by Houthi forces on November 19, 2023, shortly after the onset of hostilities in Gaza, and was subsequently escorted to the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi indicated the group's readiness to intervene if Israel escalates its military actions against Gaza.

The Houthis have conducted over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, claiming these actions are in support of the Palestinian cause. Such activities have led to significant disruptions in global shipping, forcing companies to reroute their vessels around Africa to avoid danger.

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