Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno was quoted by Japan’s Kyoto news agency as explaining: “We strongly condemn the seizure of a British-owned cargo ship operated by a Japanese company in the Red Sea.” The countries involved announced that the ship and its crew had been seized, prompting the Houthis to release them.

The Japanese agency said the ship’s managing company had set up an emergency task force at its headquarters in Tokyo, noting that the ship had been unable to be contacted and was sharing information with the British company that owns the ship. There are 25 people on board from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, while there are no Japanese citizens among its crew.

The Houthi group in Yemen declared its control Israeli shipShe was taken to the coast of Yemen, which they said was an expression of their unity, support and victory for the people of Gaza against the occupying Zionist regime.

Brigadier General Yahya Sari, the Houthis’ military spokesman, said: Houthi naval forces A military operation was carried out, the results of which were to seize an Israeli ship and take it to the coast of Yemen based on the national and moral responsibility towards the oppressed Palestinian people and the massacres they are being subjected to.

In a press conference aired by the channel, he added: “Cairo News reports that Yemeni forces are treating the Israeli ship’s crew in accordance with the teachings of the Islamic religion and warning all ships owned by Israel or they will become legitimate targets for the Yemeni armed forces.

He called on all countries to refrain from any work or activity with Israeli or Israeli-owned ships and urged them to continue military operations against the Israeli enemy until the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip ceases and its heinous crimes cease.