Media reported the release of the crew of a ship seized by the Houthis in 2023

Yemeni Houthis have freed the crew of a cargo ship seized in the fall of 2023, Al Masirah TV reported on January 22.

"The crew of the Galaxy Leader was released in coordination with [Palestinian movement] Hamas and mediation by Oman," the report said.

It is specified that the decision to release was made in support of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip, which has been in effect since January 19. Those on board were taken to Omani territory.

In November 2023, the Houthis began striking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protest Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. That's when they seized the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, assuming it was Israeli.

According to media reports, 25 people on board were citizens of Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania. The Russian Embassy in Yemen clarified that there were no Russians on board.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.