The Red Sea Crisis: Unresolved Fate of the Gaza Conflict's Abducted Shipping Crew

Hope is dwindling for the safe return of the international crew of the cargo ship hijacked by the Houthis in November. A senior Filipino diplomat believes that the hostages may not be released until the conflict in Gaza comes to an end. Meanwhile, the Houthis have stated that the fate of the sailors now lies in the hands of Hamas.

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was seized by a Houthi-owned helicopter on November 19 in the Red Sea. Rebel gunmen surrounded the vessel, taking hostage the 17 Filipinos, two Bulgarians, three Ukrainians, two Mexicans, and a Romanian who were on board.

It has been over 116 days since the hijacking took place. A senior Filipino government official has mentioned that the Houthis show no signs of releasing the crew until the hostilities cease.

Eduardo de Vega, a Filipino foreign affairs official responsible for millions of Filipino migrant workers, stated that there is little that can be done to influence the Houthis. According to him, the Houthis have made it clear that they will continue to hold the ship and its crew until the conflicts in Gaza come to an end.

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking ships in the Red Sea as retaliation against Israel's actions in Gaza since late last year.

The Houthis announced on Thursday that they had delegated the decision regarding the release of the Galaxy Leader to Hamas.

"The ship and its crew are currently under the control of the Hamas resistance movement and the Al-Qassam Brigades," shared Houthi spokesman Nasr Al-Din Amer with CNN. He mentioned ongoing talks with Hamas about the possible release of the crew, stating they do not have any personal demands regarding the vessel.

De Vega noted that the Houthis may also be seeking acknowledgment as the official government of Yemen in return for the hostages, although the likelihood of this occurring is slim.

"It will be hard for any government to acknowledge a government that attacks ships at sea," de Vega stated. He added that there is no reason to negotiate, except to guarantee humane treatment for the hostages.

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship is escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023.

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship is escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023.

Houthi Military Media/Reuters

The Philippines has a significant presence in the global seafaring industry, with close to half a million seafarers deployed worldwide annually. This accounts for over one-fifth of the total maritime workforce. Due to this large number, Filipinos are at a higher risk of facing the dangers posed by the Houthis who target ships in the Red Sea.

After the hijacking incident, a video was released by the militant group showing Houthi commanders welcoming the crew and assuring them that they will be treated as guests.

"We are here to provide anything you need," one of them assured the seafarers in the video.

According to De Vega, the crew members are being well-fed, with some even experiencing weight gain. There is no sign of violence. The hostages are allowed short phone calls with their families once a week, although their identities have not been disclosed to the public.

Most of the crew, including all the Filipinos, are currently being kept on the ship and are allowed to move around on deck. According to reports, there have been instances where some crew members were held onshore.

A Yemeni conflict analyst, Mohammed Al-Qadhi, believes that it is in the best interest of the Houthis to treat the crew well. He stated, "Those individuals are ultimately victims. The Houthis do not want them to portray a negative image of themselves."

The Philippines does not have official direct diplomatic contact with the Houthis. Instead, they work through an “honorary consul,” who is a Yemeni national with special status to represent the Philippines. In January, this honorary consul was able to visit the hostages, as confirmed by de Vega.

Armed men stand on the beach as the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, seized by the Houthis in November, is anchored off Yemen's coast, December 5, 2023.

Armed men stand on the beach as the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, seized by the Houthis in November, is anchored off Yemen's coast, December 5, 2023.

Khaled Abdullah/Reuters

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Who are the Houthis and why are they attacking ships in the Red Sea?

Access to the hostages in Aden, where the honorary consul is located, is difficult due to the presence of the Saudi-backed government of Yemen, which is in conflict with the Houthis, according to de Vega.

Al-Qadhi believes that even after the war ends, the hostages may not be released by the Houthis right away.

"They are unlikely to be released without any concessions being made, unless a bigger international deal is being negotiated for Gaza or with the Houthis," he mentioned.

The Galaxy Leader was under the operation of Japanese company Nippon Yusen, also known as NYK Line, at the time of the attack. It is owned by Ray Car Carriers, a company associated with Israeli national Abraham Ungar, as reported by maritime risk management firm Ambrey Analytics. CNN contacted both companies for their comments.

The giant roll-on/roll-off vessel, typically used for transporting vehicles globally, has recently caught the attention of local tourists. Curious locals are now being taken out to the massive ship in small boats for a closer look.

Satellite data indicates that approximately two weeks ago, the vessel was relocated from a position approximately two kilometers offshore to a mere 500 meters away from Hodeidah, a western port city in Yemen.

First fatal attack

Yemen has been plagued by years of civil war, deepened by foreign proxy rivalries, and remains one of the Middle East’s poorest nations.

Years of conflict in Yemen have led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of casualties, the country divided, and parts of it facing famine.

The attacks by the Houthi rebels on merchant ships have affected the Suez Canal, one of the busiest trade routes in the world, leading to many companies having to redirect their vessels and crew on a longer route around Africa.

Data from Ambrey Analytics shows that there have been close to 100 instances of hostile activity towards ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait area since the conflict began.

Out of these incidents, twenty-three ships have been damaged by Houthi missiles or drones, leading to injuries among crew members on three of the vessels. One ship, the British-flagged Rubymar, was almost completely sunk after being struck by a Houthi missile in late February.

The United States and Britain have carried out several air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen since February, but the attacks have continued.

Two Filipinos and a Vietnamese crew member lost their lives in a Houthi strike on the M/V True Confidence on March 6. The ship was struck by a Houthi anti-ship missile, causing a fire to break out on board. Fortunately, the Indian Navy rescued the rest of the crew and brought them to Djibouti for medical treatment.

Eleven Filipino seafarers who survived the deadly Houthi attack on the commercial ship True Confidence arrived at Manila International Airport on March 12, 2024. Two Filipino crew members remain in Djibouti to receive medical treatment.

Eleven Filipino seafarers who survived the deadly Houthi attack on the commercial ship True Confidence arrived at Manila International Airport on March 12, 2024. Two Filipino crew members remain in Djibouti to receive medical treatment.

Eloisa Lopez/Reuters

Following the strike, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the ship was targeted because it was American.

Operations in the Red and Arab Seas will continue until the aggression ends and the siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza is lifted.

The bodies of those believed to be deceased are still on the ship and are currently being moved to the closest port, as stated by de Vega.

One family continues to hold onto hope, believing that miracles can happen until they see the remains of their loved one.

After their ordeal at sea, the majority of the Filipino crew members on board have returned to Manila on Tuesday, reuniting with their families.

"It's really sad and terrible because we were all together for a long time and then this attack happened. It's incredibly painful for us, especially for the families," shared Mark Dagohoy, a crew member of the ship, with reporters upon their return.

The recent deadly attack represents a major increase in the Houthi's assaults on Red Sea shipping, putting the lives of regular seafarers at risk. These individuals work far from their families for weeks or even months at a time.

Crew members, mostly from the Global South, on board vessels now passing through the Red Sea face the risk of death, injury, and capture as Western navies deploy costly anti-ship missiles and other weapons to intercept the Houthi attacks.

Industry standards dictate that crew are supposed to be paid double time for work in designated “warlike or high-risk areas,” and they should also have the right to say no to the journey and be repatriated at the company’s cost.

The ship was officially owned by a Liberian-registered company during the attack. However, the Financial Times reported that it had been recently sold by an American private equity firm, Oaktree Capital.

When questioned about any connections to the vessel, Oaktree Capital chose not to provide a comment.

De Vega mentions that the crew may have been given the option to not continue with the journey, but it is uncertain whether they were aware of the ship's ties to the US when they agreed to board. According to de Vega, crew members are often moved from one ship to another at the discretion of the manning agency, and they typically trust the agency's decisions. In most cases, crew members may not even know who owns the ship they are working on, although it would be ideal for them to be informed.

CNN has reached out to the ship’s manager, Third January Maritime, for comment.

CNN’s Celine Alkhaldi and Paul P. Murphy contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

This article highlights the plight of the international crew of the cargo ship hijacked by the Houthis in November. The situation is dire, with the crew members held hostage for over 116 days and their fate uncertain. While the Houthis claim to be treating the crew well, their motives remain unclear. The Philippine government believes that their release may be tied to the end of the conflict in Gaza, but there is no guarantee of this. The Houthis have also reportedly delegated the decision regarding the release of the crew to Hamas, further complicating the situation. The article exposes the dangers faced by seafarers who work in high-risk areas, particularly in the Red Sea, where attacks by the Houthis have become increasingly common. The crew members, mostly from the Global South, face the risk of death, injury, and capture, despite industry standards that dictate they should be paid double time for work in such areas. The case of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship highlights the need for increased protection for seafarers and greater transparency in the shipping industry.