Seventeen Filipino seafarers are among the crew of a cargo ship seized by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Wednesday.
The Houthi rebels captured the Bahamian-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader, which is operated by a Japanese firm, and took its 25 international crew hostage, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a statement.
The DFA expressed concern for the safety of the Filipino seafarers and is coordinating with other government agencies to provide assistance.
The Houthi rebels said the seizure was in retaliation for the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. The ship has links to Israeli businessman Abraham “Rami” Ungar.
The United States has condemned the seizure and called on the Houthi rebels to release the ship and its crew immediately.
The DFA is monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as they become available.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 22, 2023
