● Houthi Rebels seized the cargo but Netanyahu denies it is Israeli and claims the operation is “an act of Iranian terrorism”
● Yemenis vowed to take an active role in the fight against Zionism
A group of Yemeni Houthi Rebels hijacked the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on the 19th of November.
They filmed the whole scene and the footage was released on Monday by the Movement’s TV channel, Al Masirah.
It shows a group of masked and armed men, dropping from a helicopter carrying both the Palestinian and the Yemeni flags, onto the cargo ship.
The 7 men that can be seen in the images entered the cockpit and ordered the crew members to lie down on the floor.
One of the men was filmed from behind, brandishing a weapon and chanting “Allahu Akbar”.
The Palestinian and the Yemeni flags were raised on board while the vessel was escorted by the rebels to Yemeni shores.
The cargo was on its way from Turkey to India and was targeted as the Yemenis believe it is linked to Israel.
On the 19th of November, General Yahya Sarea, spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, issued a statement in which he announced that, in response to the current events in Palestine, his soldiers would target any Israeli-linked ships they would come across. This includes ships flying the Israeli flag as well as owned or operated by Israeli companies.
The General urged all countries to prevent their citizens from being involved with any of those ships.
The hijack of the Galaxy Leader was announced by him later on that day and he confirmed that the ship was now under Yemeni control.
Netanyahu denied that the ship was linked to Israel and accused Iran of being behind the operation that he qualified as “an act of terrorism”.
The Iranians denied their implication in the hijack.
The Israeli Prime Minister added that the cargo ship is British-owned while being operated by the Japanese.
The Galaxy Leader is registered in the Baltic Shipping database as a British company called Ray Car Carriers. Its owner is an Israeli-American businessman called Abraham Ungar, also known as Rami Ungar. He is one of the richest men in Israel.
He also owns a company called Ray Shipping LTD as well as other companies in the shipbuilding and marine shipping sector.
The company’s financial Director, Avi Voler, is also an Israeli Citizen.
It also seems that Ungar is named in the Paradise Papers, a high-profile corruption case involving tax evasion.
On the 22nd of November, the Houthis allowed journalists to visit the cargo, kept under heavy security at Hodeida Port.
Brigadier General Muhammad Abdulnabi in charge of the Houthi soldiers, met the 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader and declared that his army was ready to attack and capture any Israeli ship crossing the Bab Al-Mandab Strait in the South of the Red Sea.
The Information Minister of the Houthi Government, Deif Allah Al-Shami declared that it is legitimate and legal for the Muslim nations to support the Palestinians since the Western nations took the side of the Zionists.
He adds: “Therefore, this operation of seizing this ship came with the intent of supporting our brothers in Palestine and to put pressure on the Zionist enemy to stop killing children and women, as well as stop targeting hospitals and schools.”
Hamas has thanked the Yemenis for their support and welcomed any future operation destined to put pressure on Israel and obtain an immediate ceasefire.
The Yemenis have launched several aerial attacks on Israel since October 7th and are determined to be an active ally of the Palestinians wherever they can.
It seems that the Israelis have managed something that no one has managed to do so far: uniting Sunnis and Shias in their fight against Zionism and injustice.
