Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijacked an Israeli-linked cargo ship on a key Red Sea route on Sunday and took more than 20 crew hostage.
2′ reading
Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijacked an Israeli-linked cargo ship on a key Red Sea route on Sunday and took more than 20 crew hostage.
Houthi rebels backed by Iran said they hijacked the ship because of its ties to Israel. The group warned that it would continue to attack ships in international waters that are affiliated with or owned by Israel until the end of Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
“All ships belonging to or associated with the Israeli enemy will become legitimate targets,” the Houthis said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office blamed the Houthis for the attack on the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader. The prime minister’s office said the 25 crew members were of multiple nationalities, including Bulgarians, Filipinos, Mexicans and Ukrainians, but there were no Israelis on board.
Netanyahu’s office condemned the seizure as an “Iranian act of terrorism.” The Israeli army called the kidnapping a “very serious incident of global significance.”
Israeli officials insisted the ship was British-owned and operated by Japan. However, ownership records in public shipping databases have linked the ship’s owners to Ray Car Carriers, a car and truck transport giant founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, known as one of Israel’s richest men.
Ungar told the Associated Press he was aware of the incident but could not comment on further details. An associated ship suffered an explosion in the Gulf of Oman in 2021. At the time, Israeli media blamed Iran.
View at ilsole24ore.com