Houthi release ship crew after a year

Over a year after the seizure of the ship ‘Galaxy Leader,’ the Houthi movement has released the crew, as reported by Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV and according to Reuters. The crew was handed over to Oman following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The Houthi militia, which controls much of Yemen and has frequently targeted ships with missiles and drones, seized the ‘Galaxy Leader’ and its 25-person crew sailing under a Bahamian flag back in November 2023. Houthi leadership pledged to halt attacks if the conflict ended, and stated that the release on Wednesday was in support of the Gaza ceasefire that started Sunday. The ceasefire is to last six weeks initially, with expectations that 33 Israeli hostages will be released and about 1,900 Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons. Attacks by the Houthis have significantly impacted international shipping and economy, forcing many companies to reroute ships south around Africa.