Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf condemned as an “act of terrorism” the hijacking of the UAE-flagged vessel Rwabee by the Houthi militias while en route from Yemen to Saudi Arabia.
“This crime of robbery and piracy put in grave peril the international maritime navigation in Bab al-Mandab Strait and southern Red Sea,” he said in a statement on Monday.
“This act of terrorist is tantamount to a war crime as it hinders the free shipping movement and jeopardizes the safety of international navigation.
“It is a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000,” Al-Hajraf stressed.
On behalf of the GCC member countries, he stated support to, and solidarity with, the United Arab Emirates in whatever measures it might take to protect its interests against such “brutal aggressions.” Dr. Al-Hajraf urged the international community to shoulder its responsibility and deter the terrorist Houthi militias from persisting in such hostile practices.
Rwabee was hijacked last night while carrying medical equipment from a decommissioned field hospital in Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea to Jazan Port in southwest Saudi Arabia. – KUNA
