Yemeni Government Insists on "All for All" Prisoner Swap, Accuses Houthis of Obstruction

Hassan Al-Qubaisi, a member of the Yemeni government’s negotiation team on prisoners, reaffirmed the internationally recognized Yemeni government's commitment to achieving a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal. The proposed swap includes the release of political leader Mohammed Qahtan, but he accused the Houthis of deliberately obstructing this humanitarian file for political gain.

In an exclusive statement to "Berran Press," Al-Qubaisi stated that Abdulqadir Al-Murtada, head of the Houthi Prisoners’ Committee, is "manipulating this humanitarian issue to keep Yemeni citizens under pressure." He emphasized the government’s principle of "all for all" as a way to permanently close this file.

Al-Qubaisi accused the Houthis of avoiding including Qahtan in the negotiations, saying, "We refuse to exclude Qahtan or anyone else from the talks. The idea of negotiating while deliberately leaving out certain individuals is completely unacceptable."

He also revealed that the Yemeni government has shown flexibility in working with international mediators and the UN envoy, holding over six virtual meetings this month to discuss all possible solutions. However, Al-Qubaisi claimed that the Houthis persistently place unreasonable obstacles to stall the process.

Meanwhile, Abdulqadir Al-Murtada, head of the Houthi Prisoners’ Committee, alleged on social media platform X that proposals made by their side during the Muscat negotiations were rejected by the government.

The United Nations previously announced the success of several prisoner exchanges between the Yemeni government and the Houthis. The largest of these, in April 2023, saw the release of 887 detainees, marking a significant milestone in ongoing negotiations since the Yemen conflict began.