Israel released its first Lebanese detainee on Thursday, marking the initial handover since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah six months ago. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the transfer of Malek Ghazi to Lebanese authorities in the southern city of Tyre.
Ghazi is among five Lebanese civilians whom Israel has agreed to release. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office explained that interrogations confirmed the detainees were not affiliated with terrorist groups and that there was no justification for their continued imprisonment.
Lebanese officials indicated that the remaining four prisoners are scheduled for release on Friday. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised the United States for its mediation efforts and affirmed that Lebanon would continue pressing for the release of all detainees, the resolution of missing persons cases, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
The US State Department described the releases as the product of American-led diplomacy between two sovereign governments. It noted that the agreement was finalized during a recent visit to Israel by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, expressing hope that this gesture would pave the way for broader discussions on civilian issues.
Despite the release, the broader peace process remains at a standstill. In June, Lebanon and Israel agreed to a US-mediated framework requiring Israeli troop withdrawals from the south in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah. However, significant progress has been elusive. Hezbollah has refused to relinquish weapons in areas north of the Litani River, while Israel maintains that a complete pullout is contingent upon the militia’s disarmament across all of Lebanon.
The cooperation also involves a quid pro quo regarding historical cases; Lebanon has been assisting Israel in locating the remains of Lebanese Jewish leaders who Israel alleges were abducted and killed by militant groups during the 1980s civil war. Netanyahu’s office characterized these search operations as significant field activity.
Tensions persist on the ground, with Lebanese state media reporting that Israeli forces detained three additional men in the town of Halta earlier on Thursday. The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately comment on the new arrests.
According to families of the detained, dozens of Lebanese individuals, including civilians and at least one Syrian national, remain held in Israeli detention centers, though the list also includes suspected Hezbollah militants. Prime Minister Salam stated ahead of upcoming talks in Rome that Lebanon would continue to mobilize all efforts to protect the rights of its citizens, particularly those in the south.
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