UN Envoy to Yemen Urges Exchange of Detainee Lists

The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg (Reuters)
The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg (Reuters)
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UN Envoy to Yemen Urges Exchange of Detainee Lists

The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg (Reuters)
The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg (Reuters)

The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, called on Wednesday to expedite the exchange of the lists of prisoners and detainees to ensure their release under the agreement of last March.

According to a statement issued by Grundberg's Office, the government and the Houthi militias agreed to establish a joint team to verify the identity of the detainees and prisoners on each party's list.

"A proposal was put forward to form a committee that brings together both parties under a joint framework to support the process of verifying the identities of the names of detainees included in their respective lists, provided that agreement is reached on details following consultation with relevant authorities," read the statement.

It said that the parties agreed to intensify efforts to finalize and consolidate lists of detainees from all sides as soon as possible.

They also agreed to facilitate visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to detention centers to assist with verifying the identities.

The parties also agreed to establish a joint committee to support verifying detainees' identities in the lists.

A previous statement issued by the Office stated that the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Detainees Release and Exchange Agreement concluded its sixth meeting in Amman following six days of discussions to identify the names of detainees who will be released based on the numbers agreed upon by the parties in March.

Grundberg asserted that he would intensify his "engagements with the parties to ensure the full implementation of all the parties' obligations in the truce."

The statement expressed Grundberg's regret that an agreement to release detainees and prisoners has not yet been completed, which leads to more suffering.

He hoped the lists would be finalized as soon as possible, with priority given to the unconditional release of sick, wounded, children, arbitrarily detained, political detainees, and journalists.



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.