The 25-member crew of the Israeli-owned Galaxy Leader Cargo ship held hostage since November 2023 while transiting the Red Sea has been released with the United Nations welcoming this news.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, described it as a step in the right direction while calling on Ansar Allah to “continue these positive steps on all fronts, including ending all maritime attacks
He emphasised that such measures are essential to improving the space for mediation and facilitating the long-term resumption of Yemen’s political process.
Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, highlighted the Special Envoy’s gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for its “determined and tireless efforts” in advocating for the crew’s release.
Haq noted that Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), emphasised, “IMO will continue to rigorously uphold its commitment to the safety of seafarers worldwide, who continue to face risks in their essential work.”
The UN reaffirmed the critical importance of ensuring full respect for international law concerning maritime navigation.
Pictures on AFP showed the captain of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship Lubomir Tchanev reuniting with his family.
The Iran-aligned group said in a statement that the 25-strong crew of Filipinos, Mexicans, Romanians, Bulgarians and Ukrainians who spent 430 days in captivity were transferred to Oman by order of Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi.
Armed Houthi fighters hijacked the Galaxy Leader and escorted it to a Yemeni port in November 2023. The Bahamas-flagged vessel is affiliated with Abraham “Rami” Ungar, one of the richest men in Israel.
