The Houthi rebels in Yemen released the crew of the ‘Galaxy Leader’ ship on Wednesday after more than a year of captivity. The liberation operation was coordinated with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and with the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman. The Houthi Defense Ministry announced the decision of leader Abdulmalik al Houthi in support of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
The Houthi assault on the cargo ship took place on November 19, 2023, after weeks of missile and drone launches by Yemeni insurgents against Israel to support the Palestinians in Gaza. A large part of those attacks was intercepted, leading the Houthis to change strategy and stop global maritime trade to prevent ships from reaching Israel.
The ‘Galaxy Leader’, sailing under the flag of the Bahamas and partially owned by Israeli mogul Rami Unger, was en route from India to Turkey. At the time of capture, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that the ship had 25 crew members of various nationalities on board.
Almost three months after the ship was held by the Houthis, the Bulgarian Minister of Transport announced that the captain and his assistant, both Bulgarian citizens, were free and returning to Bulgaria. These actions, along with multiple Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red and Arabian seas, negatively impacted the revenues of the Suez Canal.
Since the hijacking of the ‘Galaxy Leader’, the volume of traffic through the canal has drastically decreased, affecting global maritime trade. The Houthis have attacked more than 100 merchant ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, causing significant impacts on maritime routes and global revenues.
Amidst these tensions, Israel's military offensive in Gaza has caused the death of thousands of Palestinians, with reports of a high number of civilian casualties, including women and children. Attacks, kidnappings, and the disruption of maritime trade have marked a period of intense hostility in the region that has had international repercussions.
