A/HRC/42/CRP.1 humanitarian situation). Finally, evidence collected by the Group of Experts indicates that the Houthi-Saleh fighters may have used the siege as a form of collective punishment on the civilian population residing inside Ta’izz, for their perceived support of the Popular Resistance and Government-affiliated groups. Both starvation as a method of warfare and collective punishment is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law. 541 In addition, starvation as a method of warfare is a war crime in non-international conflicts that may lead to individual criminal responsibility.542 6. Targeting of humanitarian relief personnel 359. Ta’izz has been a particularly difficult place for humanitarian relief personnel to undertake their work, while at the same time remaining one of the locations where humanitarian access is most crucial, due to the ongoing hostilities and restrictions placed on communities since the early days of the conflict. While restrictions on access and humanitarian agencies’ fear of engaging with the Group of Experts limited its ability to document all cases of intimidation and harassment of relief workers, the Group documented a number of instances where harassment and threats, arbitrary arrest and detention of relief personnel, and restrictions on access occurred. Each time relief personnel are targeted or perceive that they are under the threat of being targeted, their ability to conduct their work is put at risk. The Group investigated an incident considered emblematic of this situation – the killing of an ICRC delegate in Ta’izz in April 2018, which, together with other threats, resulted in the organisation withdrawing staff from Yemen and halting some of its operations. (a) Killing of an ICRC delegate, Ta’izz, April 2018543 “I cannot point towards those who killed Hannah Lahoud, but I can say that those who killed him are those who do not love Ta’izz, who want to deny the people of Ta’izz their rights, and who want to say that Ta’izz hosts terrorism”.544 Humanitarian relief worker from Ta’izz 360. On 21 April 2018, a convoy carrying an ICRC delegation headed towards an undisclosed detention place inside Ta’izz city for a detention visit that had reportedly been cleared by the delegation with all relevant authorities.545 The team included international delegates who were going though Ta’izz on a short mission before they continued to Aden on the same day. The detention team had been in Ta’izz for less than one week, since 16 April, and had already conducted two visits to two different detention centres, on 18 and 19 April, all seemingly done without challenges.546 On the morning of 21 April, the convoy moved through Ta’izz. It stopped on its way through al-Dabab area at a local cheese shop. Shortly after its stop, the leading car, containing an ICRC driver and three detention delegates, including their team leader Hanna Lahoud, reportedly slowed down before it reached a bump in the road. While slowing down, it was approached by a man wearing a head turban who asked the driver “who are you” and then immediately turned, before the driver could answer, and shot Hanna, who was sitting behind the driver, firing two shots in the head and five in the heart. A motorcycle with a man driving it was reportedly waiting for the armed man and the two drove off. The delegation turned and headed to a clinic where Hanna was pronounced dead. The entire delegation was evacuated through Aden and Hanna’s body was returned to his home country, Lebanon. 361. Following Hanna Lahoud’s death, there were operations organized by the security authorities inside Ta’izz, with the aim of finding and arresting those responsible for his murder. A man was arrested on 26 November 2018, reportedly as one of the main suspects 541 Article 14 and 4(2)(b) Additional Protocol II. ICRC Study on customary IHL, rule 156. 543 The Group of Experts notes that this chapter was written without any contribution from the ICRC. 544 Confidential Sources on File. 545 Confidential Sources on File. 546 Confidential Sources on File. 542 86