GALAXY LEADER

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Statement from the Mission to Seafarers on the release of the Galaxy Leader hostages

Statement from the Mission to Seafarers on the release of the Galaxy Leader hostages By : The Ven. Dr Peter Rouch, Secretary General, The Mission to Seafarers “The release of the crew of the Galayy Leader is a moment of profound relief. Not only for the hostages and their families, but for everyone who has supported them throughout this ordeal, whether through prayers, advocacy, or other efforts to secure their freedom. At The Mission to Seafarers, we have been honoured to stand alongside the families of the crew who have also been severely impacted by this plight during these 430 days of unimaginable fear and uncertainty. In collaboration with industry partners, our dedicated teams in Jordan and Cyprus have provided a range of support services to these families. We have journeyed with the Galaxy Leader families, facilitating the engagement of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with them as one of the foundations of the IMO’s work to secure the crew’s release. We will also remain available to assist as the crew transition home to be reunited with their families. This incident is a stark reminder of the threats faced by seafarers, which are often outside of their control. Seafarers must never be used as geopolitical pawns. Their rights to perform their lawful duties must be upheld without compromise. Today, as we express our deepest gratitude for those whose efforts made the release possible, we also celebrate the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by the crew and their families. Their courage in the face of such trauma serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Crew of hijacked car carrier released

The Houthi movement has released the 25 crew members of the 'Galaxy Leader' on Jan 22. The crew, who come from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico, have reportedly been brought to Oman on board a plane. The ship ,which is owned by Ray Car Carriers, which is controlled by Israeli billionaire Abraham Rami Ungar, remained stuck on the beach of the port city of Hodeida.. The release came after a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire also meant that the Houthis have stopped their attacks on international shipping. However, Israeli or Israeli-owned ships remain at risk of attack. US and British aircraft have attacked Houthi targets in Yemen more than 260 times since the conflict began. Report with photo: https://nos.nl/artikel/2552822-houthi-s-zeggen-bemanning-van-gekaapt-schip-na-jaar-te-hebben-vrijgelaten

New hope for release of hostages after ceasefire

429 days after the crew of the 'Galaxy Leader' was taken hostage by the Houthi terrorists on Nov 19, 2023, for the first time during this 14-month incarceration there was hope that the 25 crew members could be freed imminently in connection with the phase one ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect on Jan 19, 2025. A senior Houth told that through Palestinian negotiators, they guaranteed that the ship and its crew will be freed in the coming days. The Houthis said on Jan 19 that as long as the ceasefire remains in place between Israel and Hamas, international merchant ships may now transit the Red Sea. However, Israeli-owned and Israeli-flagged tonnage will remain targets, and the continued attacks on Yemen by British and American military forces could see ships from those countries targeted too.