Yemeni social media influencers have been sharing videos of themselves on the cargo ship which was seized by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea – with one clip showing a group of men dancing on the top deck.
The clips have been shared on YouTube and TikTok by Mustafa al-Mumari and Abdul Rahman al-Joubi, who describe themselves as comedians.
In one video, al-Joubi, who has more than 42,000 YouTube followers, is seen inside a lift on the Israeli-linked Galaxy Leader ship with a group of young men.
Read more: Follow the latest from the Israel-Hamas war here
Al-Joubi then puts what appears to be an emergency phone to his ear as he talks into the camera.
The men then step out of the lift before they walk up some stairs to the top deck and begin laughing and joking together.
YouTube This content is provided by YouTube, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable YouTube cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to YouTube cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow YouTube cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
In a separate clip which has surfaced on X, formerly known as Twitter, a line of men are seen dancing on the top deck of the ship.
Three of the men are carrying a Yemen flag while some of the others are clutching rifles.
Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
Al-Joubi and al-Mumari do not feature in the clip and it is unclear who originally posted it.
Advertisement
Al-Mumari, who was detained by members of the Houthi group in December last year on charges related to freedom of expression, is seen talking on a beach with the ship in the background in a clip he posted on YouTube.
The influencer then travels to the Galaxy Leader in a smaller boat before he is seen on the deck of the enormous vessel.
Read more:Have hostages gone missing in Gaza?Gaza hospital scenes ‘apocalyptic’Thousands march against antisemitism
YouTube This content is provided by YouTube, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable YouTube cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to YouTube cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow YouTube cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
Speaking in Arabic, he jokingly says the ship will be sold to make money for Yemen.
He also calls on Israel to stop bombing Gaza and suggests people should expect to have their ships taken if they keep “killing our brothers”.
The comedian later stands next to a swimming pool and asks “is the whole sea not enough?”.
Al-Mumari and two other men are seen smoking shisha on the ship towards the end of the video.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:26
How Houthis seized cargo ship
Yemen’s Houthi rebels released a video last week showing armed men descend onto the Galaxy Leader before seizing the ship in the Red Sea.
The video from Yemeni Military Media shows at least seven masked men, carrying what appears to be AK-47s, drop from a helicopter and land on the top deck of the ship.
The ship was hijacked by the Iran-backed group on Sunday 19 November.
Source : Sky News
