Houthis Release Sailors Held Captive for a Year

The crew of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, captured by Yemeni Houthis over a year ago, has been freed through mediation efforts by Hamas and Omani authorities, reports NewsBox.

The members of the Galaxy Leader's crew, taken hostage by the Yemeni group "Ansar Allah" in November 2023, were released after more than a year in captivity. According to Al Masirah TV, representatives from Hamas and Oman's government facilitated the negotiations. Among the freed were citizens of Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, totaling 25 individuals.

The Galaxy Leader, owned by an Israeli businessman, was under charter to a Japanese company at the time of its capture. Media reports suggest the ship had an international crew of between 22 and 52 members. The release of the crew is the result of prolonged negotiations that successfully resolved the crisis.