In a new development regarding the hijacking of the car carrier Galaxy Leader, Yemen's Houthi rebel group has released video footage showing a senior Houthi commander aboard the ship, meeting with the crew and reassuring them. The vessel, operated by Ray Car Carriers, had been seized by a helicopter-borne Houthi assault team on Sunday.

The video, released by the Houthi rebel group, depicts the commander shaking hands with the crew, expressing that they will be treated as "guests," and assuring them that they can ask for anything they may need. This marks a change in the tone from the initial hijacking, which was carried out by heavily-armed militants.

With a crew comprising 17 Filipino members and eight citizens from Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Mexico, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs assured that negotiations are ongoing to ensure the safety and well-being of the seafarers. The department, along with the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers, is in contact with the crew and their families.

The Houthi rebel group has recently vowed to target shipping linked to Israel in response to the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza. The Galaxy Leader, owned by Ray Car Carriers with ties to an Israeli shipping magnate, was targeted due to its Israeli association. The Israeli government has confirmed that there are no Israeli nationals on board the vessel.

The Galaxy Leader, currently parked near the coast of Al-Hudaydah in Yemen, was reportedly boarded without difficulty by the militants despite operating with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off as a security measure. The Hodeidah port, under Houthi control and where the ship has been taken, is strategically located near shipping lanes leading to and from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints.

Japan has taken the lead in negotiating for the release of the hijacked ship. The vessel was chartered by Japanese shipping conglomerate NYK and operated in NYK livery. It has been reported that there was no cargo on board the Galaxy Leader at the time of the hijacking.

It is worth noting that the Houthi forces receive support from the Iranian government, which has provided them with missiles, armed drones, and fast attack boats, among other armaments. Additionally, Iran maintains the surveillance and special-operations support ship Behshad in a semi-permanent anchorage in the Red Sea, close to the hijacking location and the main shipping lanes.

As negotiations continue for the safe release of the crew and the return of the hijacked ship, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, recognizing the potential implications for maritime security in this crucial region.