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Houthi spokesman says the group’s fighters have hijacked the ship, reportedly owned by an Israeli businessman.
Yemen’s Houthis say they’ve taken management of an Israeli-owned ship within the southern Pink Sea, with Israel describing the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism” with penalties for worldwide maritime safety.
A Houthi navy spokesman confirmed to Al Jazeera on Sunday that its fighters hijacked the British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship.
A minimum of 22 individuals have been onboard the Galaxy Chief – reported to be partly owned by an Israeli businessman – which was en route from Turkey to India.
“We have received confirmation from a Houthi official that they hijacked this ship. Earlier today [Sunday], they announced the beginning of operations to attack Israeli-flagged ships. They warned international sailors not to work for such companies,” stated Al Jazeera’s Mohammed al-Attab, reporting from Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
The Houthis, backed by Tehran, have launched a number of missile and drone attacks against Israel because the newest assault on the besieged Gaza Strip started on October 7, killing greater than 12,300 Palestinians, together with 5,000 youngsters.
“The Houthis have carried out a number of attacks on Iranian targets. We are expecting more attacks in the coming days,” al-Attab stated.
The Israeli authorities referred to as the hijack “a very serious event on a global level”, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace saying Israel was not concerned within the ship’s possession, operation or the make-up of its worldwide crew.
“This is another Iranian act of terrorism that represents an escalation in Iran’s belligerence against the citizens of the free world, with concomitant international ramifications vis-a-vis the security of global shipping routes,” stated a press release launched by the prime minister’s workplace.
“There were no Israelis on the ship,” it stated, including the 25 crew members are from Ukraine, Mexico, the Philippines and Bulgaria, amongst different international locations.
A United States defence official stated the US is “aware of the situation and closely monitoring it”.
“What we understand is that the shipping company is partly owned by an Israeli businessman and this wouldn’t be the first time one of his ships was intercepted. In 2021, one of his vessels was also targeted,” stated Al Jazeera’s Sara Khairat, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem.
Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, stated there was no proof put forth by Israel that Iran is behind the hijack.
“This is an accusation made by the Israeli prime minister’s office without any concrete evidence to support it,” she stated.
The battle in Gaza has despatched tensions hovering within the area, with worldwide organisations and political leaders warning of a possible wider regional conflict.
“Iran in the past has distanced itself from these various armed groups in the Middle East that are against Israel,” Jabbari stated.
“But given Israel’s continuous bombardment of Gaza and what they call ‘genocide’ against the Palestinian population, the Iranians are saying the conflict could spread.”
