Yemen’s Houthis say Israeli ship crew released after Gaza ceasefire

By Shukri Hussein

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – The Yemeni Houthi group released on Wednesday the crew of an Israeli ship after a ceasefire deal that halted Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

"We announce the release of the crew of the Galaxy Leader vessel that was seized on Nov. 19, 2023 as part of our support battle for Gaza," the Houthi Political Bureau said in a statement cited by the state news agency Saba.

The statement, however, did not specify how many crew members were released.

It said the release came after communication with Palestinian group Hamas and mediation from Oman.
It was not yet clear if the vessel was also released.

Israel has denied that any Israeli ship was seized by the Houthi group in Yemen.
There was no immediate Israeli comment on the report.

The Houthi group has targeted cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip.

A Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on Jan. 19, suspending Israel’s genocidal war that has killed nearly 47,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 111,160 since Oct. 7, 2023.

The three-phase ceasefire agreement includes a prisoner exchange and sustained calm, aiming for a permanent truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The Israeli onslaught has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar