Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday freed the crew of the merchant ship Galaxy Leader after detaining them for more than a year, citing the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as motivation.
Weeks after the war in the Gaza Strip broke out on October 7, 2023, the Houthis began launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in what they said was support for the Palestinians.
At the start of their campaign, helicopter-borne rebels stormed the vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader and detained its 25 international crew.
On Wednesday, the Houthi supreme council “announced the freeing of the crew of the Galaxy Leader, who were arrested on November 19, 2023, during the campaign in solidarity with Gaza”, the rebels’ Saba news agency said.
It added that the release came “in support of the ceasefire” in the Palestinian territory, which began on Sunday.
Saba said the crew were freed with the help of the Gulf sultanate of Oman.