The spokesperson for Yemen's Islah Party, Adnan al-Odaini, confirmed on Thursday, July 4, 2024, that the party has "confirmed information" that their senior member, Mohammed Qahtan, who has been held captive by the Houthi group for nine years, is alive.

Al-Odaini, who is also the deputy head of the party's media department, held the Houthis "fully responsible for his life," particularly in light of what he described as "unethical" statements made by some Houthi leaders.

He emphasized that the "immediate release of Mohammed Qahtan is a top priority."

These statements come after the head of the Houthi delegation participating in the Muscat prisoner exchange negotiations, Abdulqader al-Murtada, suggested on Wednesday that a deal had been reached to release Qahtan in exchange for 50 Houthi prisoners. He added that if Qahtan is deceased, his body would be returned in exchange for 50 bodies from the Yemeni government.

The UN office for Yemen confirmed that the Yemeni government and Houthi delegations had reached a "understanding" on the release of detainees, including Qahtan, during the prisoner exchange negotiations in Oman. The office stated that the talks are "currently taking place in a positive and constructive atmosphere." They stressed the "need to complete negotiations on this understanding with a sense of responsibility to achieve tangible results towards the release of all detainees held in connection with the conflict, based on the principle of 'all for all.'"

Majid Fadil, the spokesperson for the Yemeni government delegation in Muscat in a post on "X" seen by Barran Press, confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the Houthis, under the supervision of the UN, to exchange 50 Houthi prisoners for Qahtan, who has been held captive for over nine years.

Al-Odaini expressed concern about the trajectory of the negotiations, questioning the reliance on Houthi narratives regarding the prisoner exchange deal. He described the Houthis' statements about Qahtan's release as "frivolous and unethical," saying they lack sincerity and reveal a desire to manipulate and engage in empty rhetoric.

The latest round of prisoner exchange negotiations between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group, under UN supervision, began on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Muscat.

During the opening session, the head of the Yemeni government negotiating delegation, Yahya Kazzman, linked the success of the negotiations to the revelation of Qahtan's fate. He stated that one of the primary goals of their participation is the "release and exchange of Mohammed Qahtan," whom he described as a "major obstacle" that must be addressed before moving towards a broader agreement and closing this humanitarian file by securing the release of all detainees and abductees held by all parties without exception.

Qahtan is a prominent leader in the Islah Party, the largest political party in Yemen, and one of four individuals whom UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 demanded the Houthis release.

The Houthis arrested Qahtan from his home in Sana'a on April 5, 2015, after placing him under house arrest. His family has stated that they are unaware of his whereabouts or condition, and have not been able to contact him since his detention.

In April 2023, the government and the Houthis carried out the most recent prisoner exchange, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, following negotiations in Switzerland. This exchange resulted in the release of approximately 900 prisoners and detainees from both sides.