The Galaxy Leader was abducted by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militias. The operator of the Bahamas-flagged vessel is Japan, but the ship is owned by a British company in which Israeli businessman Rami Unger has a stake. The group consists of 25 people, including two Bulgarians; Others are Ukrainians, Mexicans and Filipinos. According to reports, not a single Israeli was on board.
Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, one of the leading activists of the Shiite Houthi movement, said on the Internet that under what conditions negotiations could begin on the release of the crew. According to the assumptions of experts, it is about political conditions. “If the US and Israel stop killing Palestinians in Gaza and provide water, medicine and food there, we can talk about the Israeli ship. Attacked by the Yemeni navy,” he wrote.
Many condemned the hijacking. USA, UK, UN and Israel.
Authorities in Sofia confirmed the presence of Bulgarian nationals on board the hijacked vessel. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Gabriel appealed for as little publicity as possible over the case. He stressed that his ministry is in constant contact with international partners and Bulgarian companies in the region. The representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zivko Kotsev, also reported on relations with partners.