The Galaxy Leader capture is yet another indication of the devastating consequences a conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Houthis is having on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el Mandeb strait. Ray Car Carriers owns it; their ownership has links to Israeli tycoons.
Houthis have asserted their intention of targeting any ships linked to Israel – though they do not consider Galaxy Leader to be one.
MSC Clara and Swan Atlantic
Yemeni rebels have initiated an unprecedented spate of drone attacks against cargo ships with purported links to Israel, endangering global shipping along a vital trade route. On Monday, Houthi Spokesman Yahya Sarea reported two missiles fired from Houthi territory hit two ships named MSC Clara and Swan Atlantic that had both been sailing the Red Sea near Bab el Mandeb strait; two days earlier another Houthi missile narrowly missed hitting an Indian-made jet fuel-filled Saudi tanker in this same vicinity.
US Central Command announced that a United States Navy destroyer, USS Carney, successfully shot down one of two missiles launched from Iran towards vessels near Port Said and Reunion Island. Another missile struck Swan Atlantic but caused only minor fire damage that quickly dissipated; according to its owner Inventor Chemical Tankers it has no Israeli connections and had been traveling between Port Said and Reunion Island.
The United Nations has warned of Iran-backed Houthi attacks against vessels associated with Israel in response to Israel’s military offensive on Gaza, prompting some major shipping lines including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to suspend voyages in that area. A US defence official indicated they are reluctant to target Houthi missile sites due to fear it might escalate tensions further and spark Iranian reprisals against Israel.
Zim Israel
Since October’s outbreak of war, Iranian-backed Houthis have disrupted Red Sea shipping by attacking Israeli vessels they believe belong to Israel – including by firing missiles or drones at them, board and hijack them, or firing missiles or drones against them.
This month, Israeli ocean carrier ZIM altered their routes to circumvent Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Ship position data shows that Zim Europe, on route from Boston to Port Klang Malaysia via Boston changed course in the Atlantic and is now traveling south around Africa – taking 56% longer than usual via Suez Canal.
Block the Boat activists have been closely following the Zim Piraeus’ rerouting and are prepared to act whenever it docks again. Last month, our actions prevented it from unloading at Oakland by blocking its berths for four days – successfully keeping her away from unloading its cargoes there.
BDS thrives at the intersections of struggles, and this is where its power to stop this company resides. Workers in organized labor -including California Teachers Association members and AROC unionists- have already responded to calls from Palestinian trade unions by refusing to facilitate commerce with companies complicit with Israeli complicity as part of BDS. That is why PGFTU action, which is now being emulated by unions in US, Canada, Australia and Sweden is so effective.
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