Grundberg Leaves Sanaa without Commenting on Houthi Conditions for Extending Truce

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg - Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Grundberg Leaves Sanaa without Commenting on Houthi Conditions for Extending Truce

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg - Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg - Asharq Al-Awsat

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded on Thursday a one-day visit to Yemen’s Houthi-run capital, Sanaa. During his visit, Grundberg met with the head of the Houthi ruling council, Mahdi al-Mashat.

Grundberg left Sanaa without commenting on the conditions placed by Houthis on expanding the humanitarian and military truce in Yemen, which expires next Sunday.

The UN-brokered truce between the Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi militias went into force on April 2 and was later renewed twice through Oct. 2.

Currently, the UN is racing against time to persuade the Yemeni warring parties to extend the truce for an extra six months.

In addition to extending the cease-fire agreement, the United Nations also seeks to expand its provisions.

Fears are growing regarding Grundberg’s inability to convince Houthis of his plan to expand and improve the terms of the armistice.

Nevertheless, western and US diplomats hope that the UN envoy will succeed in his mission.

Paving the way for launching talks and reaching a comprehensive settlement for the conflict in Yemen hinges on Grundberg’s success in convincing the Houthis.

Houthi media reported that al-Mashat met Grundberg and his accompanying delegation.

“UN efforts to expand the truce were discussed during the meeting,” they affirmed.

According to the Houthi version of the official Saba News Agency, al-Mashat reviewed with Grundberg Houthi demands for the payment of employee salaries and pensions and the abolition of restrictions on Sanaa airport and the port of Hodeidah.

Grundberg was told the rebels would “not accept the expansion” unless the salaries of all state employees and the pensions of retired state staff were paid.

Before heading to Sanaa, the UN envoy had visited Riyadh and met with the leaders of the internationally recognized government and Saudi officials. He also paid a visit to Oman to meet there with Omani officials.



EU Has Reached Agreement to Improve Aid Access for Gaza, Kallas Says

Displaced Palestinians fetch water at a distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on July 10, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
Displaced Palestinians fetch water at a distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on July 10, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
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EU Has Reached Agreement to Improve Aid Access for Gaza, Kallas Says

Displaced Palestinians fetch water at a distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on July 10, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
Displaced Palestinians fetch water at a distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on July 10, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)

The European Union has reached an agreement with Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip, including increasing trucks for aid and opening crossing points and certain aid routes, the EU's top diplomat said on Thursday.

"These measures are or will be implemented in the coming days, with the common understanding that aid at scale must be delivered directly to the population and that measures will continue to be taken to ensure that there is no aid diversion to Hamas," Kaja Kallas said in a statement.