In a surprising turn of events, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have released the 25-member crew of the Bahamas-flagged cargo ship Galaxy Leader, more than a year after seizing the vessel off Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The Houthis said the crew, consisting of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, were freed “in support” of the recent ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Houthis Tie Crew Release to Gaza Ceasefire
According to the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV, the decision to release the Galaxy Leader crew was made “within the framework of our solidarity with Gaza and in support of the ceasefire agreement.” Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi emphasized the group’s readiness to intervene if Israel violates the fragile truce in Gaza, stating:
“We are in constant readiness to intervene immediately at any time the Israeli enemy returns to escalation, genocidal crimes and siege of the Gaza Strip.”
The Galaxy Leader had been seized by Houthi forces on November 19, 2023, shortly after the outbreak of war in Gaza the month prior. The Houthis, known formally as Ansar Allah, began launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in support of the Palestinians, declaring US and British interests as “legitimate targets.”
US Redesignates Houthis as Terrorist Group
News of the crew’s release coincided with US President Donald Trump signing an executive order to once again designate the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization.” The Trump administration had previously applied this label, but it was removed by former President Joe Biden in 2021 amid concerns from aid groups about the impact on humanitarian efforts in war-torn Yemen.
However, in response to the Houthis’ escalating attacks on shipping, which have disrupted global maritime trade and forced vessels to take longer, more expensive routes around southern Africa, the Biden administration put the group back on the less severe “specially designated global terrorist” list last year. This still allowed aid to reach Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world.
Calls to Protect Seafarers and Shipping
International maritime organizations have strongly condemned the Houthis’ attacks and the danger posed to innocent seafarers. Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, urged that “seafarers must not become collateral victims in wider geopolitical tensions.” The International Chamber of Shipping echoed this sentiment, calling on all nations to support seafarers and shipping to prevent such incidents from recurring.
While the release of the Galaxy Leader crew offers a glimmer of hope, the situation in Yemen and the broader region remains volatile. As the Houthis face increased pressure and terrorist designations from the US, and with the tenuous Gaza ceasefire still in its early days, the potential for further escalation and impact on global shipping persists. The international community will be closely watching to see if this crew release marks a shift in Houthi tactics or merely a temporary olive branch tied to the delicate negotiations in Gaza.
