The family of Arturo Zacarías, the merchant marine kidnapped in the Red Sea, confirmed his release and said they eagerly await his arrival in Mexico. Zacarías was one of the 25 people who remained kidnapped on the Galaxy Leader ship since November 19, 2023, by Houthi rebels from Yemen, as part of the conflicts occurring in the Gaza Strip.
After more than a year, the truce agreement of Israel in Gaza finally led the rebels to release the people on the ship where two Mexicans were traveling.
Arturo's brother, José de Jesús Zacarías, said they were confirmed the news of the release, although he was the one who initially gave it through a call.
"The Foreign Affairs confirmed the news to us, and we found out and received it with much emotion and joy (the news) we are in shock, we still don't know how to react," he stated.
"My brother was notifying us and told us they were going to be released, and Foreign Affairs confirmed the news to us and it was through them that we found out and received it with much emotion and joy," he added.
The family held demonstrations and requests for help to the federal government several times to ask them to expedite negotiations to secure the release of the sailors after the ship was taken by Houthis from Yemen, who have shown solidarity with the Palestinian population due to Israel's war in the region.
"Thanking them for being aware of us all this time, there were moments when there was no communication, but it was because there was no news; besides that, the government was always aware of us," commented Arturo's brother.
He mentioned that they currently do not have the exact information about the route Arturo will take to Mexico as final details are still being finalized, but they know that the process of bringing him home has begun.
He indicated that the government of Mexico will help through its embassies to take him from the Middle East to Europe and finally, after more than a year and three months, arrive in Misantla, north of Veracruz, where he is originally from.
