Watch: Houthi Commander Welcomes Crew Members Of Hijacked Ship Galaxy Leader

Yemen’s Houthi Group released a new video where a commander of the Group can be seen on the recently seized ship Galaxy Leader, meeting with the car carrier’s crew members, reassuring them and inspecting the ship.

#Houthi-appointed navy commander inspected the seized #GalaxyLeader vessel in Hudaydah, #Yemen. He spoke to the crew who hail from the #Philippines, #Bulgaria, #Romania, #Ukraine, and #Mexico. The captain and first mate on the Galaxy Leader were identified as Bulgarians.#اليمن pic.twitter.com/CH0nkpdCge

— Basha باشا (@BashaReport) November 22, 2023

Video Credit: Basha باشا/Twitter

The Galaxy Leader is operated by Ray Car Carriers, which has ownership links with an Israeli Shipping Magnate. Houthis vowed to target Israeli ships to retaliate against Israel’s operations in Gaza.

The video shows the commander shaking hands with the crew and telling them they are guests and can ask for whatever they need.

17 Crew of the ship are Filipino, and the Philippines Department of Migrant Workers is contacting their families to provide them assistance.

The other eight crew members are Mexican, Ukrainian, Romanian, and Bulgarian. There are no Israeli nationals on the ship, per the government of Israel.

Houthis have made it clear that the crew members will not be harmed, said Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Eduardo Jose De Vega.

Negotiations for releasing the vessel are being headed by Japan as the ship was under charter to NYK.

The Galaxy Leader has been taken to the Port of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Houthis and is closer to the strategic shipping routes going through the Hormuz Strait.

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