DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On Wednesday, the Houthi rebels from Yemen announced the release of the crew from the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier that they had seized in November 2023. This incident marked the beginning of their assaults on shipping in the Red Sea corridor amidst ongoing tensions stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The release reflects the Houthis’ attempt to scale back their aggressive actions in light of a ceasefire in Gaza. This development coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump potentially reconsidering a terrorism designation that was previously revoked by President Joe Biden, which could impact the Houthis further.
The rebels attributed the release of the sailors to mediation efforts led by Oman, a nation on the eastern fringes of the Arabian Peninsula that has a history of facilitating dialogue with the Houthis. Although Oman has not officially confirmed the release, a military aircraft from Oman reportedly flew to Yemen shortly after the announcement was made by the rebels.
In their statement, the Houthis indicated that the decision to release the crew, which consists of 25 sailors from countries including the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Mexico, was made at the request of Hamas. The Houthis stated, “This step comes in support of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” as reported by their own SABA news agency.
Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy for Yemen from the United Nations, expressed his relief about the crew’s release, calling it “heartwarming news,” ending their prolonged arbitrary detention. He encouraged the Houthis to continue on this positive trajectory and to cease all maritime attacks.
The Galaxy Leader was reportedly hijacked by the Houthis due to its connections to Israel. Following this seizure, the rebels initiated a campaign targeting various vessels in international waters, which appears to have halted following the recent ceasefire related to the Gaza conflict. A representative of the company owning the Galaxy Leader has yet to comment on this development.
The ship is registered under the Bahamian flag and is linked to Israeli billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar, recognized as one of Israel’s wealthiest individuals. The attack on the Galaxy Leader included an aerial assault involving a helicopter, and the Houthis have circulated propaganda footage of this operation, including a music video filmed aboard the ship.
On Monday, the Houthis announced that their future maritime operations would be limited to targeting only those vessels associated with Israel, although they hinted that broader attacks might recommence if deemed necessary. However, this assurance is unlikely to encourage international shipping companies to return to this pivotal route for cargo and energy transitions between Asia and Europe, particularly after their activities have drastically reduced traffic through the region, adversely affecting Egypt’s economy derived from the Suez Canal operations.
The crew’s release might also be an attempt by the Houthis to enhance their standing with the United States, despite the fact that the Galaxy Leader remains anchored off the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. One Yemeni expert suggested that this gesture could be aimed at gaining favor with the incoming Trump administration to possibly postpone the designation of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 100 commercial vessels, launching missiles and drones in their campaign. This offensive has seen the rebels seize one vessel and sink two, resulting in the deaths of four sailors. While various attacks have been thwarted by U.S.-led coalitions in the Red Sea, some missiles have failed to hit their intended targets, which have included Western military ships.
The rebels have argued that their focus is solely on vessels affiliated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K.; however, many entities targeted were not directly connected to these nations, some even heading to Iran. Recently, the pace of the Houthi attacks on maritime targets has diminished, which could be attributed in part to a U.S. airstrike campaign—evidence suggests that U.S. and allied forces have conducted over 260 strikes against Houthi positions.
In the meantime, the ongoing military operations in Gaza have resulted in substantial casualties, with reports indicating over 46,000 Palestinian fatalities, a count that has not differentiated between combatants and civilians, but highlights women and children as constituting a significant portion of those lost.
