Yemen Holds Onto 3 References to Achieve Peace

Yemeni PM Abdulmalik received Monday in the temporary capital Aden families of a number of victims of the terrorist attack on Aden airport (saba)
Yemeni PM Abdulmalik received Monday in the temporary capital Aden families of a number of victims of the terrorist attack on Aden airport (saba)
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Yemen Holds Onto 3 References to Achieve Peace

Yemeni PM Abdulmalik received Monday in the temporary capital Aden families of a number of victims of the terrorist attack on Aden airport (saba)
Yemeni PM Abdulmalik received Monday in the temporary capital Aden families of a number of victims of the terrorist attack on Aden airport (saba)

The Yemeni government has reiterated its support for the task of the UN envoy on the basis of the three references, after reports said Martin Griffiths plans to kick off a series of meetings to revive comprehensive political talks on the draft Joint Declaration.

“The government's vision is based on supporting the task of the UN envoy on the basis of the three references; the GCC Initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference and UN Resolution 2216,” Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed BinMubarak said Monday during a meeting with European Union Ambassador to Yemen Hanse Grundberg.

According to Yemen’s saba news agency, BinMubarak and Grundberg discussed humanitarian issues and the Houthi militias’ terrorist attack on Aden Airport last week.

BinMubarak praised efforts exerted by the UN envoy to Yemen for solving the country’s crisis, and made it clear that the terrorist attack waged by the Houthis on Aden International Airport was part of their agenda to spread chaos and violence in Yemen.

The European diplomat pointed out to the EU statement, which denounced the airport attack that aimed at foiling hopes of peace. He expressed support to the government of Yemen for realizing peace, hoping that the attack will not affect its mission.

Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik said results of preliminary investigations show that Houthis had launched the attack on Aden’s airport while the world was watching live the arrival of the new government.

Abdulmalik’s statements came as he received Monday in the temporary capital Aden families of a number of persons who were killed in the attack.

"We won't forget the martyrs' blood nor abandon the wounded, we must work jointly to get rid of this calamity, put down the coup and restore the state," the PM said.



Hamas Armed Wing Says It Lost Contact with Group Holding Israeli-US Hostage Alexander

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)
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Hamas Armed Wing Says It Lost Contact with Group Holding Israeli-US Hostage Alexander

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)

The armed wing of Hamas said on Tuesday it had lost contact with a group of fighters holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Ubaida, the armed wing's spokesperson, said on the Telegram that it lost contact after the Israeli army attacked the place where the fighters were holding Alexander, who is a New Jersey native and a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli army.

Abu Ubaida did not say where in Gaza Alexander was purportedly held. The armed wing later released a video warning hostages families that their "children will return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart from shrapnel from your army".

Hamas has previously blamed Israel for the deaths of hostages held in Gaza, including as a direct result of military operations, while also acknowledging on at least one occasion that a hostage was killed by a guard. It said the guard had acted against instructions.

There was no immediate response from the Israeli military to a request for comment on the Hamas statement about Alexander.

President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House in March that gaining the release of Alexander, believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, was a "top priority for us".

The Tikva Forum, a group representing some family members of those held in Gaza, had said earlier on Tuesday that Alexander was among up to 10 hostages who could be released by Hamas if a new ceasefire was reached, citing a conversation a day earlier between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the mother of another hostage. There was no immediate comment on that from Netanyahu's office.

On Saturday Hamas released a video purportedly showing Alexander, who has been held in Gaza since he was captured by Palestinian gunmen on October 7, 2023.

The release of Alexander was at the center of earlier talks held between Hamas leaders and US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler last month.

Hamas released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19. In March, Israel's military resumed its ground and aerial offensive on Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the truce without ending the war.

Israeli officials say that offensive will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized. Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.