Yemenis chant slogans and wave flags during a march in solidarity with the people of Gaza on Nov 10, 2023, in Sanaa, amid ongoing conflicts between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (PHOTO / AFP)

SANAA - Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday said the security and safety of international navigation in the Red Sea is linked to ending the Israel-Hamas conflict, when responding to a statement by the Group of Seven (G7).

"The security and safety of the international navigation in the Red Sea, as well as the fate of the ship Galaxy Leader, are linked to the choices of the Palestinian resistance forces and what serves their goals in confronting the Israeli aggression," the Houthis said in a statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV.

G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting issued a statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza, calling on the Yemeni Houthi militia to immediately cease attacks on civilians and threats to international shipping lanes and commercial vessels 

Hours earlier, G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting issued a statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza, calling on the Yemeni Houthi militia "to immediately cease attacks on civilians and threats to international shipping lanes and commercial vessels and release the M/V Galaxy Leader and its crew illegally seized from international waters on Nov 19."

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The Yemeni Houthi militia has claimed responsibility for several cross-border missile attacks towards Israel, as well as the hijacking of commercial ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct 7.

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The Houthi group controls much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.