The stain of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict spread yesterday by sea after several sources, both from Israel and Yemen, confirmed that a group of Houthi rebels from that country had boarded and taken control of a cargo ship that would be linked to Israel. at a crucial point on a Red Sea route.
The incident further fuels the escalation of tension that has been going on in the Middle East for more than a month between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Although initially there was no confirmation from the Houthis, one of their spokespersons later confirmed the seizure to Efe but without confirming whether or not the ship was carrying the Israeli flag, but assuring that Israeli ships are among their targets.
Over the past month, Yemen's Houthis, allies of Iran, have been in the spotlight because they are suspected of sending missiles and drones to their Hamas allies. Sources from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that the crew of the Galaxy Leader, flying the Bahamas flag, is made up of 25 people, including Bulgarians, Filipinos, Mexicans, Ukrainians..., but apparently no Israelis. The Israeli government has condemned the capture of the cargo ship, which usually carries vehicles, and called it an “Iranian act of terror.” Sources from the Israeli army assured that the boarding of the cargo ship represented “a very serious incident with global consequences.”
The intercepted ship is owned by a British shipping company operated by a Japanese company. However, the data of the company that owns it in accessible databases indicates that the ownership of Ray Car Carriers, founded by Abraham Rami Ungar, known as one of the richest men in Israel, changes the perspective of the incident.
Ungar himself assured AP that he was aware of the situation but that he could not make any further comments until he knew more about the situation. In no case did he deny being the owner of the ship. It is one more example of the intricate system of international maritime trade in which several nationalities are mixed on the same vessel, that of the owner, that of the operating company and that of the country represented on the flag.
Two years ago a cargo ship owned by Rami Ungar suffered an explosion in the Gulf of Oman. At the time, the Israeli press blamed the Iranian regime for the incident. According to the position marked by several satellites, the Galaxy Leader was sailing through the Red Sea southwest of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, more than a day ago.
The ship was traveling between the port of Korfez, in Turkey, and Pipavav, in India. At the time of the kidnapping the position indicators were disconnected. The Red Sea from the Suez Canal to the narrow Bab el Mandeb Pass is a key route for international trade. Several US Navy searches have been patrolling the area since the Hamas attack on October 7.
