Houthi rebels hijack Israeli-owned ship in Red Sea

JERUSALEM: In a concerning development, an Israeli-owned cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, has reportedly fallen prey to a hijacking orchestrated by an Iran-backed militia group in the Red Sea.

Houthi rebels, based in Yemen, are suspected culprits in the incident. Up to 52 individuals were believed to be on board the Galaxy Leader, a large cargo ship owned by an Israeli firm, at the time of the seizure. This action follows previous threats by the Houthis, explicitly targeting ships affiliated with Israel or flying its flag in the region.

Reports indicate that an Israeli-owned cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, has been hijacked by the Houthi rebels operating in the Red Sea.

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]The vessel, partially owned by an Israeli company, faced conflicting statements from Israeli officials and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) regarding its nationality. The exact ownership remains obscured due to complex ownership structures common in the shipping industry. The crew’s nationality remains uncertain, with Israel asserting no nationals are on board.

The Galaxy Leader is reported to have been seized by Houthi rebels in line with their earlier threats against Israeli-affiliated vessels.

 Ownership complexities surround the vessel, with Israeli officials acknowledging the rebel takeover, while the IDF disputes its Israeli identity.

The ship, reportedly owned by Israeli shipping businessman Rami Ungar, had not reported its position for an extended period, raising concerns about the safety and whereabouts of its crew.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that Yemen’s Houthis had seized a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea as it was sailing from Turkey to India, calling this “a very grave incident on a global level”.

In a social media post, the military added that the vessel, which it did not name, was not Israeli-owned and had no Israelis among its crew.