In a significant escalation amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have reportedly hijacked a cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, en route to India in the southern Red Sea. Israel has accused the Houthi group of orchestrating the hijacking, branding it an “Iranian act of terrorism.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement, condemning the incident as a manifestation of Iran’s growing aggression. The Houthi rebels, aligned with Tehran, claimed responsibility, asserting that they are treating the ship’s occupants in line with Islamic principles.
The Houthi movement originated in the late 1990s, championing the Zaydi sect of Shia Islam. Over the years, they engaged in conflicts with the Yemeni government and briefly clashed with Saudi Arabia. The hijacking marks a notable escalation in their involvement, following missile and drone attacks in support of Hamas against Israel.
The India-bound cargo ship, owned by a British company and operated by the Japanese, has become a focal point of the conflict. The Houthi rebels allege it belongs to Israel, a claim rejected by Tel Aviv. The vessel, now in a Yemeni port, carried a diverse crew of 25 members of various nationalities.
Disclaimer: The ownership details provided in this report associate the ship with a company founded by Abraham Rami Ungar, one of Israel’s wealthiest individuals.
