Israel releases Lebanese civilian, says five prisoners will be freed

Israel has released one Lebanese civilian detainee, Malek Ghazi, and pledged to free five other prisoners. This marks the first such handover since the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict began six months ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel agreed to the release after Beirut assisted in locating the bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders abducted and murdered in the 1980s. The five detainees were found not to be involved in terrorism. Malek Ghazi was handed over to the Lebanese army via the International Committee of the Red Cross at the border crossing in Naqoura. This release is the first since US-brokered negotiations between Lebanon and Israel commenced in April.

A Lebanese man, Malek Ghazi, was released from Israeli detention and handed over to Lebanon on Thursday, marking the first such exchange since the current Israel-Hezbollah war began six months ago. The release was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and involved five Lebanese civilians detained by Israeli forces. Israel stated the release was in exchange for Lebanon's assistance in searching for the bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders abducted and murdered in the 1980s. Ghazi was transferred to the Lebanese army intelligence office in Tyre. This prisoner exchange occurs as negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah disarmament remain at an impasse, with another round of talks expected in Rome.