Hadi Heij, head of the government delegation negotiating on prisoners and abductees, stated that the issue of abductees and those forcibly disappeared has remained one of the most painful humanitarian tragedies in recent years, affecting thousands of families due to repeated setbacks and obstacles hindering humanitarian efforts. He pointed out that this issue has been handled through pressure tactics without considering the immense suffering endured by the abductees and their families.

In a declaration to the Yemeni News Agency (SABA), Heij added that the lengthy rounds of negotiations sometimes came close to achieving progress, but the efforts often faltered, making reaching any agreement an extremely arduous and complex process.

He addressed the recent agreement brokered by the United Nations, describing it as an important humanitarian step that is hoped will contribute to alleviating some of the suffering of the abductees, which has persisted for years as a result of abductions, enforced disappearances, and the violations they face in Houthi prisons.

He emphasized the importance of the clause concerning Mr. Muhammad Qahtan, who has been held in Houthi prisons for over a decade. The agreement stipulates the formation of a joint committee, comprising representatives from all parties, including Qahtan's family and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to determine his fate. He noted that this clause must be implemented before the agreement is finalized, given that Qahtan's case is one of the most pressing humanitarian and national issues that cannot be overlooked.

He also commended the role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its efforts and contacts, which helped create the conditions for the agreement's success and supported humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the abductees and their families. He also expressed his appreciation for the role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in facilitating the signing of the agreement.

The head of the delegation expressed his hope that this step would mark the beginning of further efforts to fully address this humanitarian issue in the coming phase, with the aim of ending the tragedy of the abductees, returning them to their families, and bringing an end to their long years of suffering.

It was announced yesterday, Thursday, that the Yemeni government delegation negotiating the detainees file reached an agreement to release approximately 1,750 detainees and abductees from various parties, including 27 members of the Arab Coalition forces. This agreement followed months of negotiations under international and regional auspices.

The delegation explained that the agreement came after rounds of direct and indirect negotiations that began in Muscat, then moved to Riyadh, culminating in 90 days of consultations in Jordan. These efforts resulted in the signing of the lists and the implementation mechanism, representing a tangible breakthrough in this humanitarian issue.