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Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels seize cargo ship in Red Sea, Israel blames Iran | Israel-Palestine conflict News<\/p>\n
Yemen\u2019s Houthis say they have taken control of an Israeli-owned ship in the southern Red Sea, with Israel describing the incident as an \u201cIranian act of terrorism\u201d with consequences for international maritime security.<\/p>\n
A Houthi military spokesman confirmed to Al Jazeera on Sunday that its fighters hijacked the British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship.<\/p>\n
At least 22 people were onboard the Galaxy Leader \u2013 reported to be partly owned by an Israeli businessman \u2013 which was en route from Turkey to India.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Al Jazeera\u2019s Mohammed al-Attab, reporting from Yemen\u2019s capital, Sanaa.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are treating the crew in accordance with Islamic norms and principles,\u201d said Yemen\u2019s Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree in a statement later on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He renewed the warning that any ship belonging to Israel or those who support it will be a legitimate target for Houthi forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe confirm our continuation of military operations against [Israel] until the aggression and ugly crimes against our Palestinian brothers in Gaza and the West Bank stop,\u201d said Saree.<\/p>\n
The Houthis, backed by Tehran, have launched several missile and drone attacks against Israel since the latest assault on the besieged Gaza Strip began on October 7, killing more than 12,300 Palestinians, including 5,000 children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Houthis have carried out a number of attacks on Iranian targets. We are expecting more attacks in the coming days,\u201d al-Attab said.<\/p>\n
The Israeli government called the hijack \u201ca very serious event on a global level\u201d, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s office saying Israel was not involved in the ship\u2019s ownership, operation or the makeup of its international crew.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is another Iranian act of terrorism that represents an escalation in Iran\u2019s belligerence against the citizens of the free world, with concomitant international ramifications vis-a-vis the security of global shipping routes,\u201d said a statement released by the prime minister\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were no Israelis on the ship,\u201d it said, adding the 25 crew members are from Ukraine, Mexico, the Philippines and Bulgaria, among other countries.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s military also denied the ship was Israeli. In a statement on X, it said: \u201cThe hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very grave incident of global consequence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship,\u201d the Israeli army said.<\/p>\n
A United States defence official said the US is \u201caware of the situation and closely monitoring it\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we understand is that the shipping company is partly owned by an Israeli businessman and this wouldn\u2019t be the first time one of his ships was intercepted. In 2021, one of his vessels was also targeted,\u201d said Al Jazeera\u2019s Sara Khairat, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
Al Jazeera\u2019s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, said there has been no evidence put forth by Israel that Iran is behind the hijack.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an accusation made by the Israeli prime minister\u2019s office without any concrete evidence to support it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The war in Gaza has sent tensions soaring in the region, with international organisations and political leaders warning of a potential wider regional conflict.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran in the past has distanced itself from these various armed groups in the Middle East that are against Israel,\u201d Jabbari said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut given Israel\u2019s continuous bombardment of Gaza and what they call \u2018genocide\u2019 against the Palestinian population, the Iranians are saying the conflict could spread.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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