News - Yemen: The head of the National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, Abdulqader Al-Murtadha, announced the unilateral release of 153 prisoners from the opposing forces, including individuals who are sick, wounded, and elderly.

Al-Murtadha emphasized that this step was motivated by humanitarian considerations and called for reciprocity from the other side.

Speaking at a press conference, Al-Murtadha stated, “Any unilateral release operation is a humanitarian act. Over the years, we have undertaken numerous initiatives for unilateral prisoner releases, hoping to encourage similar actions from the other party.”

He criticized the Saudi-backed side for its lack of cooperation, describing it as “obstinate” and unwilling to engage in meaningful humanitarian efforts. Al-Murtadha accused them of detaining citizens on regional and sectarian grounds and hiding hundreds of prisoners, depriving them of communication with their families.

He also revealed that previous agreements, including the “all-for-all” prisoner exchange initiative, were obstructed by the Saudi-backed parties. 

“We are not negotiating with a single party but with multiple parties, and the enemy’s lack of transparency continues to hinder progress,” he said.

Additionally, Al-Murtadha accused Saudi Arabia of limiting negotiations to the release of its own prisoners while disregarding others. He further criticized the Islah Party in Marib for preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting prisoners held in its facilities.

“We have previously released over 10,000 prisoners through local mediations, yet the enemy has failed to show the same humanitarian commitment,” he stated.

Al-Murtadha reiterated the committee’s dedication to addressing the humanitarian aspects of the prisoner issue, expressing hope that the opposing parties would act in good faith and prioritize the release of all detainees.

The US-Saudi aggression in Yemen has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history, with millions of people facing famine, displacement, and a lack of basic services.

The issue of prisoner exchanges has been a recurring point of contention in negotiations. Despite numerous agreements brokered by international mediators, including the United Nations, many deals have stalled due to a lack of Saudi-backed party cooperation. The “all-for-all” initiative, which proposed the simultaneous release of all detainees from both sides, has failed to materialize due to the Saudi-backed side's non-compliance and selective implementation.

Humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have long advocated for the humane treatment of detainees and called for an urgent resolution to the prisoner issue. However, Saudi-backed side is accused of detaining individuals on political, sectarian, or regional grounds, further complicating the possibility of meaningful progress.

The unilateral release of prisoners by the National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs marks a significant step aimed at fostering goodwill and encouraging reciprocal actions from the opposing parties. However, challenges persist, particularly with accusations of obstruction and selective prioritization by key players, including Saudi Arabia and local factions such as the Islah Party.

The prisoner issue remains a pivotal humanitarian concern, with potential implications for broader peace talks and conflict resolution efforts in Yemen.