How the Gaza War is related to the Houthis' seizure of a ship headed for India

The British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was reported to have been captured by Houthis in the Red Sea, is depicted in a file photo.

The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group, hijacked a ship that was headed for India on Sunday, November 19, adding a new twist to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. All 25 members of the crew were taken hostage when Huthi fighters descended from helicopters onto the ship. The rebels claim that the crew is being treated "by Islamic values."

Israel has called the hijacking "another Iranian act of terrorism" and asserted that the ship is operated by Japan and owned by the British.

Why have the Indian-bound ship's Houthis taken control of it? What responses have different stakeholders given to this? How are the Houthis connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict, and who are they?

What led to the ship's hijacking?

The ship Galaxy Leader had no cargo when it sailed from Turkey to Pipavav in Gujarat. Members of its crew hail from Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Ukraine.

The hijacking is consistent with the Houthis' previous declaration that should Israel continue its bloodshed in Palestine, they would attack ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea as well as the vital Bab al-Mandeb, a narrow strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

This past week, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, the leader of the group, stated in a broadcast speech that "we are open to constantly monitor and search for any Israeli ship in the Red Sea, especially in Bab al-Mandab, and near Yemeni regional waters," as reported by Reuters.

The chief negotiator and spokesman for the Houthis, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, claimed in an online statement following the hijacking that the Israelis only speak "the language of force," according to AP. "The Israeli ship's detention is a concrete measure that demonstrates the Yemeni military's determination to fight the war at sea, no matter the cost. This marks the start," he continued.

Why is Japan involved, and how has Israel responded?

Israel has declared that neither it nor any of the crew members are Israeli owners or operators of the ship.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "This is another act of terrorism by Iran that represents an escalation in Iran's belligerence against the citizens of the free world, with concomitant international ramifications vis-a-vis the security of global shipping routes."

According to AP, the Israeli military described the hijacking as a "very grave incident of global consequence."

The ship does seem to be connected to an Israeli billionaire, though. As per the Associated Press, the ship's owners were linked to Ray Car Carriers, which was established by Abraham "Rami" Ungar, a prominent figure in Israel, based on ownership details found in public shipping databases.

A ship connected to Ungar experienced an explosion in the Gulf of Oman in 2021. Iran was then held responsible by Israeli media.

The Japanese company Nippon Yusen was in charge of operating the Galaxy Leader. In addition to denouncing the hijack, Japanese officials have stated that they are in talks with the Houthis and are enlisting the aid of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran to free the ship and its crew.

What is the purpose of the Houthis' involvement, and who are they?

A civil war has been raging between the Houthis and the Yemeni government for nearly ten years. They control the northern part of Yemen, which includes Sanaa, the official capital. These days, the official government is based in Aden.

The Houthi tribe is the source of the group's name. Iran supports the Houthis, who are Zaydi Shias, while Saudi Arabia, Iran's main adversary, and the West back the Yemeni government. The early 1990s Zaydi religious revival movement is where the group got its start.

Houthis' unwavering hostility to Israel and the West is the basis for their support of "brothers and sisters in Palestine." They have tens of thousands of fighters and a massive arsenal of ballistic missiles and armed drones, making them a formidable fighting force, according to Reuters. The Houthi stronghold in Yemen is too far away from Israel for their fighters and rockets to directly threaten Israel, but they have been launching missiles in the direction of the "enemy country."

The primary risk posed by the Houthis' actions is that their participation may intensify the fighting and possibly involve Iran. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia may be forced to intervene in the conflict if Israel decides to launch rockets over the country in retaliation against the Houthis. Many other nations with an interest in the maritime trade in the area may also be involved in the seizure of vessels in the sea.