News - Yemen: The unilateral initiative by the Sana’a government to release dozens of prisoners from the Saudi-backed side, for humanitarian reasons and in compliance with the directives of the Leader of the Revolution Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, has been widely welcomed by both public and official circles.

Talat al-Sharjabi, spokesperson for the Supreme Council for Humanitarian Affairs, stated that the release of 153 prisoners from the Saudi-backed side is a message of humanity, ethics, and brotherhood.

In an exclusive statement to Al-Masirah TV, Sharjabi noted that such initiatives upset the United States, which has placed the committee on its sanctions list in an attempt to hinder its efforts.

Meanwhile, Abdulqadir al-Murtadha, head of the National Committee for Prisoner Affairs, emphasized in a statement to Al-Masirah that any unilateral release of prisoners is a humanitarian act. He highlighted that Sana’a has undertaken numerous unilateral initiatives to release prisoners over the past years.

Al-Murtadha explained that 153 prisoners from the coalition's mercenaries, including the sick, wounded, and elderly, were released unilaterally. He criticized the Saudi-backed side for its intransigence and refusal to undertake similar unilateral initiatives. He expressed hope that the Saudi-backed government and the Islah Party would act purely from a humanitarian standpoint and release the detainees they are holding. He also condemned the enemy for arresting travelers based on regional and sectarian biases.

The head of the Prisoner Committee mentioned that a "all-for-all" exchange agreement was previously reached, and Sana’a was ready to implement it, but the enemy obstructed it. He added, "We are not negotiating with one entity, but with multiple parties," and pointed out that the enemy conceals hundreds of prisoners and prevents contact with them.

Al-Murtadha revealed that over 10,000 prisoners from the Saudi-backed side have been released through local mediation in the past. He noted that Saudi Arabia sought to negotiate solely for the release of its prisoners, disregarding the others.

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, detention 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.