The Israeli Aggression on Civilian Facilities in Yemen Highlights the Urgent Need to Hold Israel Accountable for Its Violations Worsening the Humanitarian Crisis
Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on Sana’a Airport, Al-Kathib Port, and Ras Isa Port in Al-Hodeidah, marking a dangerous escalation that violates international laws and directly targets vital civilian infrastructure in Yemen. This highlights the urgent need to hold Israel accountable for its violations, which exacerbate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and endanger the lives of civilians.
The organization pointed out that this attack comes in the context of public threats by the Israeli Minister of Defense to destroy Sana’a, a threat that underscores the destructive mindset prevailing in Israeli government policies. In this context, “destruction” in the Israeli lexicon mirrors the comprehensive devastation seen in Gaza, where civilians and vital facilities were obliterated without restraint.
SAM has reviewed video clips circulating on social media documenting the moment of the attack on Sana'a Airport, where the footage showed the targeting occurring at a time when dozens of civilians were inside the airport lounge, resulting in 4 fatalities, 16 wounded, and 3 missing individuals, according to statistics from the Houthi group. This starkly reflects Israel's lack of concern for the safety of civilians or respect for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, which stipulates the necessity of protecting civilians and avoiding endangering their lives during armed conflicts.
The organization emphasized that targeting vital facilities such as ports and airports demonstrates a deliberate intention to disrupt economic life and plunge the population into a humanitarian catastrophe. This is a clear attempt to impose a policy of “starvation” as a means of pressure, reflecting a deliberate strategy to humiliate and subjugate the population rather than achieving any legitimate military objectives. Sam stressed that such attacks not only damage infrastructure but also threaten the lives of millions of civilians who depend on these facilities for food, medicine, and fuel.
SAM affirmed that the Israeli attacks on Sana’a Airport and Al-Hudaydah’s ports, including Al-Kathib Port and Ras Isa Port, constitute a blatant violation of international law, particularly the rules of international humanitarian law that prohibit targeting civilian facilities and essential infrastructure indispensable for the survival of civilian populations. These attacks amount to war crimes under the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I of 1977, which obligate parties to a conflict to refrain from directing attacks against civilians and non-military targets. The organization noted that these facilities are lifelines for millions of Yemenis, as the population relies heavily on Al-Hudaydah Port for securing food, medicine, and fuel.
SAM added that these attacks blatantly disregard the principles of proportionality and distinction, two fundamental tenets of international humanitarian law. The deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure leaves no doubt that such actions amount to crimes against humanity. Furthermore, targeting economic and service facilities directly threatens the lives of millions of civilians, exacerbating their daily suffering in a country already experiencing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. This necessitates urgent international action to halt these violations and hold those responsible accountable.
SAM organization called on the international community to take a firm stance against this dangerous escalation, stressing that silence over such actions encourages Israel to continue violating international laws with impunity. The organization urged the United Nations and international organizations to act immediately to ensure the protection of civilians and vital facilities in Yemen and to work to stop such assaults that threaten the lives and dignity of the population. Sam concluded by emphasizing that the continuation of these attacks reveals the double standards with which the international community addresses humanitarian crises, perpetuating a dangerous reality that allows states like Israel to violate the rights of peoples without deterrence.
The Israeli Aggression on Civilian Facilities in Yemen Highlights the Urgent Need to Hold Israel Accountable for Its Violations Worsening the Humanitarian Crisis
Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on Sana’a Airport, Al-Kathib Port, and Ras Isa Port in Al-Hodeidah, marking a dangerous escalation that violates international laws and directly targets vital civilian infrastructure in Yemen. This highlights the urgent need to hold Israel accountable for its violations, which exacerbate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and endanger the lives of civilians.
The organization pointed out that this attack comes in the context of public threats by the Israeli Minister of Defense to destroy Sana’a, a threat that underscores the destructive mindset prevailing in Israeli government policies. In this context, “destruction” in the Israeli lexicon mirrors the comprehensive devastation seen in Gaza, where civilians and vital facilities were obliterated without restraint.
SAM has reviewed video clips circulating on social media documenting the moment of the attack on Sana'a Airport, where the footage showed the targeting occurring at a time when dozens of civilians were inside the airport lounge, resulting in 4 fatalities, 16 wounded, and 3 missing individuals, according to statistics from the Houthi group. This starkly reflects Israel's lack of concern for the safety of civilians or respect for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, which stipulates the necessity of protecting civilians and avoiding endangering their lives during armed conflicts.
The organization emphasized that targeting vital facilities such as ports and airports demonstrates a deliberate intention to disrupt economic life and plunge the population into a humanitarian catastrophe. This is a clear attempt to impose a policy of “starvation” as a means of pressure, reflecting a deliberate strategy to humiliate and subjugate the population rather than achieving any legitimate military objectives. Sam stressed that such attacks not only damage infrastructure but also threaten the lives of millions of civilians who depend on these facilities for food, medicine, and fuel.
SAM affirmed that the Israeli attacks on Sana’a Airport and Al-Hudaydah’s ports, including Al-Kathib Port and Ras Isa Port, constitute a blatant violation of international law, particularly the rules of international humanitarian law that prohibit targeting civilian facilities and essential infrastructure indispensable for the survival of civilian populations. These attacks amount to war crimes under the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I of 1977, which obligate parties to a conflict to refrain from directing attacks against civilians and non-military targets. The organization noted that these facilities are lifelines for millions of Yemenis, as the population relies heavily on Al-Hudaydah Port for securing food, medicine, and fuel.
SAM added that these attacks blatantly disregard the principles of proportionality and distinction, two fundamental tenets of international humanitarian law. The deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure leaves no doubt that such actions amount to crimes against humanity. Furthermore, targeting economic and service facilities directly threatens the lives of millions of civilians, exacerbating their daily suffering in a country already experiencing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. This necessitates urgent international action to halt these violations and hold those responsible accountable.
SAM organization called on the international community to take a firm stance against this dangerous escalation, stressing that silence over such actions encourages Israel to continue violating international laws with impunity. The organization urged the United Nations and international organizations to act immediately to ensure the protection of civilians and vital facilities in Yemen and to work to stop such assaults that threaten the lives and dignity of the population. Sam concluded by emphasizing that the continuation of these attacks reveals the double standards with which the international community addresses humanitarian crises, perpetuating a dangerous reality that allows states like Israel to violate the rights of peoples without deterrence.