On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a strong condemnation of the Houthi rebels' recent attacks on commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, labeling these actions as war crimes. Between July 6 and July 9, Houthi naval forces targeted and destroyed the MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C, resulting in the death and injury of several crew members, with six others currently detained by the Houthis.

HRW has urged for the immediate cessation of these violations of the laws of war. Niku Jafarnia, a researcher at HRW, emphasized the necessity for governments to recognize these acts as war crimes, irrespective of the responsible party. "The Houthis should end all attacks on ships not participating in the conflict and immediately release the crew members in their custody," Jafarnia stated.

According to the 1994 San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, which reflects customary international law, there is a stringent limitation on attacks against military objectives. Both ships attacked were engaged in civilian activities, with the MV Magic Seas transporting fertilizer and steel from China to Turkey, and the MV Eternity C traveling from Somalia to Saudi Arabia after delivering humanitarian aid for the United Nations World Food Programme.

The Houthis have attempted to justify their aggressive actions by claiming the ships violated a Houthi-imposed ban on interactions with Israeli ports. However, this rationale has not mitigated the swift international condemnation. The European Union described the attacks as a "serious escalation" that jeopardizes maritime security in a crucial global waterway, potentially threatening regional peace, global commerce, and freedom of navigation.

These events occur at a pivotal moment, coinciding with potential peace negotiations in the region, including a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and discussions about reinitiating talks over Iran's nuclear program following recent military actions involving Israel and the United States.

The international community remains on high alert, wary of the broader implications these attacks might have on the already fragile humanitarian situation in Yemen and the overall stability in the Middle East.