There is an unwritten rule in war - at some point there needs to be negotiations - both for release of hostages and ending the war. AND you need the right people to conduct such negotiations.
Saleh was one of these people and, likely, a very important one.
Let us dwell on hostages only for the time being. We have just two chances now - Buckley's and none. Likely Bibi was not really interested in hostages anyway so may have been his way of putting an end to calls by his people to undertake negotiations for their release.
