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Human Rights Watch Describes Houthi Attacks on Merchant Ships as (War Crimes)

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South Eye | South24

Human Rights Watch stated on Wednesday, July 23, that the Houthi group carried out attacks on two commercial ships in the Red Sea between July 6 and 9, operations that resulted in crew casualties and detentions, indicating that these attacks amount to "war crimes" under international humanitarian law.

The organization added in its report that the attacks on the ships "Magic Seas" and "Eternity C" were legally unjustified, as neither vessel had any connection to Israel or the military conflict, nor were they carrying military cargo or engaged in warlike activities.

Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at the organization, said: The Houthis have sought to justify unlawful attacks by pointing to Israeli violations against Palestinians. Adding “The Houthis should end all attacks on ships not taking part in the conflict and immediately release the crew members in their custody”.

According to the report, the attacks sank both ships and killed at least four crew members, while six survivors are believed to remain in Houthi custody. The organization noted that detaining these individuals after rescue violates international law and constitutes unlawful hostage-taking.

Human Rights Watch clarified that the "Magic Seas," flying the Liberian flag and operated by a Greek company, was en route from China to Turkey carrying fertilizers and steel, while the "Eternity C" was traveling from Somalia to Saudi Arabia after delivering humanitarian aid for the UN World Food Programme.

The organization stated it had reviewed videos and images released by the Houthis showing moments of the attacks on both ships but couldn't verify some accompanying audio recordings. It added that the footage clearly shows targeting of unarmed civilian vessels posing no military threat.

The attacks pose long-term environmental threats to the region, Human Rights Watch said. Wim Zwijnenburg, an analyst at PAX, a Dutch nongovernmental organization, said that satellite imagery shows large oil slicks trailing from the areas where both vessels sank. He said the oil slicks are threatening wildlife in Bera’Isole, a protected nature reserve on Eritrea’s coast and host to a fishing community. He added that as of July 22, PAX had “seen oil slicks washing ashore near the small fishing community of Idi” as well.

The report concluded by emphasizing that international law prohibits targeting civilian or humanitarian ships unless engaged in hostilities, and that leaders responsible for such attacks or mistreatment of detainees could face legal accountability as war criminals.

These developments come amid escalating tensions between the Houthis and Israel, after the latter conducted airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea port of Hodeidah on July 21. The Israeli military stated the strikes targeted infrastructure linked to Iranian weapons smuggling, describing them as preemptive strikes to thwart imminent attacks.

The following day, July 22, the Houthis announced launching a "Zulfiqar" ballistic missile toward Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, triggering sirens across several Israeli areas.

The Israeli military confirmed intercepting the missile before it reached its target, with no material or human damage reported, while the Israeli government made no immediate comment regarding potential retaliation.