Japan said on Monday it was “directly” approaching Houthi rebels in Yemen following the capture this weekend in the Red Sea of a cargo ship with 25 crew members, owned and chartered by an Israeli businessman by a Japanese maritime transport group.
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“We are communicating with Israel, and in addition to directly approaching the Houthis, we urge Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and other relevant countries to demand from the Houthis that the boat and its crew members be promptly released,” said Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.
The Houthi rebels, who control with the support of Iran a large part of Yemen at war, claimed on Sunday to have seized a commercial ship belonging to an Israeli businessman in the Red Sea, in retaliation for the bombings on the Gaza Strip.
According to the maritime security company Ambrey and the site specializing in maritime transport TradeWinds, the cargo ship belongs to Ray Car Carriers, a British company controlled by Israeli businessman Abraham Rami Ungar.
The Japanese government also condemned “firmly” on Monday the seizure of the Galaxy Leader, which was operated by the Japanese company Nippon Yusen (NYK) and which before its capture was on its way to India. No Japanese nationals were on board according to Tokyo.
According to Israeli authorities, the boat’s crew included citizens of various countries: Bulgarians, Filipinos, Ukrainians and Mexicans, but no Israelis.