The Galaxy Leader which has been captured Photo Vessel Finder
Red Sea – On Sunday, Houthi rebels from Yemen seized control of the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship linked to Israel, in the Red Sea. Israel promptly denounced the action, attributing responsibility to Iran. The Israeli government alleges that the Iranian government played a role in the Houthi rebels’ actions, further intensifying tensions in an already tumultuous region.
Responding to the situation, the Israeli government distanced the ship from any Israeli connection, asserting it to be a British-owned, Japanese-operated vessel. However, publicly available shipping databases reveal ownership ties to Ray Car Carriers, founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals in Israel. The Houthi rebels have seized the 25 staff members on board as hostages, even though there are no reported Israelis among them. The rebels executed the takeover by rappelling from a helicopter onto the cargo ship. While it is easy for Israel to blame Iran, there is no evidence being produced by the Israeli government to back up their statements, said Dr Ahmed Jazbhay, Executive member at Media Review Network (MRN).
“[They] are simply trying to lure, in my opinion, the Americans into a direct confrontation with Iran. The Americans are wary of this. The Iranians themselves are wary of this and they said they do not seek a wider escalation of the current war that is happening on Palestinians in Gaza. Why the Israelis would say that it was orchestrated by the Iranians is quite obvious. The Iranians do support the Houthis financially and militarily but whether they had any direct involvement in this is unlikely.”
Jazbhay believes Israel knows they cannot sustain a war with Iran without the help of the Americans and so, this tactic of theirs is to try and pull the Americans into a war “they have no appetite for”. The Iranian Foreign Minister has already said the axis of resistance of the various factions within the region operate independently. Jazbhay does believe the Iranians could have known or had some intelligence the attack was going to take place as the Houthis already issued a statement before they captured the vessel that they would target any and all Israeli vessels.
The possibility of a war breaking out in the Middle East
There are a few countries in the Middle East which have not yet come out in support of Palestine and its cause. Many of the countries except Yemen, Iraq and Iran are firmly within the corners of the Americans and by extensions, the Israelis. This has sparked concerns that should the Houthis and Hezbollah continue their attacks on Israel, it could spark a third World War. However, Jazbhay dismissed the likelihood of a third world war, citing the reluctance of Middle Eastern countries to engage in a full-scale conflict.
“None of the Arab countries have provided even a single bullet to Al Qassam Brigade. When we look at the wider implications of it, the chances of a third World War happening to be honest are next to null. Right now it’s a bit of a low intensity war between Hezbollah and Israel but they are merely targeting each other’s military capabilities. There is some chance of a regional escalation but in terms of a third World War escalation, it’s not likely.”
Yemen’s role and future implications
Yemen’s involvement in the cargo ship seizure raises questions about the rebels’ capabilities and future plans. Jazbhay suggests that while the event is significant, it’s unlikely to be replicated unless there is a collective effort involving Houthi rebels, Iran, and other regional actors. The challenge lies in overcoming the formidable air defences of Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“The Houthis have fired a few missiles since the beginning of the war. These were either shut down by the Israelis or by the Saudis. None of them reached historic Palestine. They do have a few long range missiles but the air defences of the surrounding countries, particularly Saudi Arabia have managed to shoot down missiles in the past. It’s unlikely that any missile will reach any part of historic Palestine controlled by the Israelis.”
When it comes to cargo ships and vessels operating in the Red Sea, Jazbhay suggested that those run by an Israeli company or have Israeli citizens on board may opt for a longer route. Two commercial ships have already diverted their sailing routes and it is possible more may soon follow. While the Houthis may try to portray this as a new attacking front in the war, Jazbhay doesn’t believe there will be any more success or that Israel will retaliate against the Houthis as they have already distanced themselves from the cargo vessels and there are no Israeli citizens on board.
“It takes a lot of preparation, it takes a lot of military might to pull off an operation like this. In terms of its future viability, unless they’ve got some sort of weaponry, some sort of military capability to overcome the air defences of Saudi Arabia and Israel, it’s unlikely that they will achieve any more successes of this magnitude.”
Egypt’s cautious approach
Amidst the turmoil, Egypt maintains a cautious stance, playing both sides, being a crucial ally to Israel and a gateway for Palestinians. The delicate balance involves avoiding responsibility for Palestinians while contributing to easing their suffering through limited aid deliveries. The Rafa Crossing’s situation underscores the challenges in providing assistance to Gaza. They are one, according to Jazbhay, of Israelis closest and important allies in the Middle East.
“Egypt has been doing the bidding for Israel. This idea that the Egyptian are powerless is partly true but even at the best of times, they are allowing a limited amount of trucks of aid into Gaza… They are very aware of the kind of aid and the amount of aid they will allow in. We’ve seen Israel bomb the Gaza side of the Rafa crossing and Egypt does not want to become involved in this way. They’ve got their own economic problems. The idea of Pan Arab Nationalism is out of the window. That died with Anwar El-Sadat.”
Amidst the rising tensions, an international effort has brokered a temporary respite between Israel and Hamas. Both parties have agreed to a four-day cessation of hostilities, facilitating the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians detained in Israel. Additionally, the humanitarian pause allows the entry of crucial aid into the besieged enclave. An intriguing aspect of the agreement is the potential extension of the pause by one day for every 10 hostages released, although the Israeli government has not indicated reciprocity regarding the exchange of Palestinian captives.
