The Gaza conflict’s forgotten shipping crew held hostage in the Red Sea

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The Gaza conflict’s forgotten shipping crew held hostage in the Red Sea | CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/14/middleeast/houthi-hostages-philippine-seafarers-gaza-war-intl-hnk/index.html

Hope is fading for the imminent return of the international crew of the cargo ship hijacked by the Houthis in November, with a senior Filipino diplomat saying he does not expect a release until the war in Gaza is over, while the Houthis say the fate of the sailors is now in Hamas’ hands.

The Gaza conflict’s forgotten shipping crew held hostage in the Red Sea | CNN

A Houthi-owned helicopter hijacked the Galaxy Leader cargo ship on November 19 in the Red Sea, as rebel gunmen laid siege to the vessel and took the ship’s crew of 17 Filipinos, two Bulgarians, three Ukrainians, two Mexicans and a Romanian hostage.

It’s now been more than 116 days since the hijacking, and according to a senior Filipino government official, there is no indication that the Houthis are open to releasing them until the hostilities end.

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Two Filipinos and a  Vietnamese crew member were killed in a Houthi strike on the M/V True Confidence on March 6. The vessel was hit by a Houthi anti-ship missile and fire quickly spread on board. The remaining crew was rescued by the Indian Navy, which took them to Djibouti for treatment.