DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi rebels unilaterally freed 153 war detainees Saturday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said, one of several overtures in recent days to ease tensions after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip .

The United Nations said on Friday that the Houthis who control northern Yemen had detained seven U.N. personnel, and it was suspending all UN staff movement in Houthi-held areas while seeking the detainees' immediate release.

Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels on Saturday released 153 war detainees in the militia-controlled capital Sana'a, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). "This operation has brought much-needed relief and joy to families who have been anxiously waiting for the return of their loved ones,

The United Nations on Friday suspended all travel into areas held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels after seven more of their staff were detained by the rebels.

The move will authorize harsher penalties on the Iran-backed group, which has attacked Israel and disrupted global shipping trade in the Red Sea for over a year.

The United Nations said on Friday that Yemen's Houthi rebels have once again detained its personnel in the war-wracked country. They were detained in areas controlled by the Iran-backed militia, the UN Yemen office said.

In northern Yemen, Houthi militants detained seven UN staff members. All movements of personnel have been halted in areas controlled by the terrorists, and the organization's leadership is demanding their release,