Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Monday that Houthi authorities detained at least 19 UN workers in Yemen three days after Israeli operations in the nation’s capital killed Houthi leader Ahmed al-Rahawi and several other government officials.

HRW stressed how the arbitrary detainments ultimately harm Yemeni civilians, stating:

At a time when the majority of people in Yemen do not have access to adequate food and water, the Houthis’ arrests of UN staff are not only disastrous for those detained and their families but also for the broader Yemeni population that relies on the UN and other organizations for much-needed aid.

Houthis have reportedly relied on recent Israeli attacks to “justify escalating their repression of Yemenis living in areas under their control, including through arrests of aid workers, whom … have previously [been] accused of espionage.” Tensions between Yemen and Israel continue to rise after Houthis took credit for a drone strike on an Israeli airport Sunday.

The latest detentions add to the growing number of UN personnel held by Houthi forces. According to Amnesty International, 65 UN staff members and other civil society workers remain arbitrarily detained in Yemen.

Many detainees are not charged with specific crimes and have not been granted access to lawyers or family members. One Yemeni World Food Programme (WFP) worker, named Ahmed, died in Houthi detention on January 23 under unclear circumstances, leading to fears for the well-being of all others who remain detained.

On August 31, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Houthi actions and demanded the unconditional release of all UN personnel. Guterres also denounced Houthi forces for allegedly entering WFP premises and attempting to raid other UN locations in Sana’a, the nation’s capital.

Detaining UN personnel engaged in humanitarian relief work violates international laws of armed conflict. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, humanitarian relief personnel and objects are entitled to protection and respect. Parties to an armed conflict have obligations to facilitate civilian access to humanitarian relief, including food and other essentials. Authorized humanitarian relief personnel must also be allowed freedom of movement to carry out this function.