Arab League chief calls for the immediate release of seized UAE ship

The chief of Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, called for the immediate release of the Emirati ship Rawabi and its crew, who are being held by the Houthis off the Yemeni coast.

He stressed the League’s full condemnation of this act as an act of maritime piracy.

In a statement released recently, Aboul Gheit noted that the seizure of the ship is a dangerous escalation by the Houthis and that it is not directed against a specific country, but rather violates the principle of freedom of navigation established in international law and the law of the sea, which may affect the interests of many countries and threaten international trade in this vital region of the world.

He explained that the Houthi behavior, and the piracy and kidnapping of the militia, reflect a dangerous criminal trend that must be confronted and deterred, to preserve freedom of navigation in this important commercial place, and to preserve lives and property.