Israel announced the release of five Lebanese detainees on Thursday following operational efforts and field activities, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The decision to free the detainees came after authorities determined they were not members of any terrorist organization and had been arrested in areas controlled by the Israeli military in southern Lebanon. However, Lebanese officials and military sources reported a discrepancy on the ground, stating that Beirut had received only a single prisoner through the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The developments unfolded alongside ongoing military escalations in southern Lebanon, where a 4–5 vehicle Israeli force, including a military bulldozer, briefly entered the agricultural area of Halta in the Hasbaya district on Thursday morning. According to local mukhtar Issa Abdel Aal, the force surrounded several homes, used loudspeakers to direct residents outside, and detained three men: Zael Ali Abdel Aal, Qasem Mohamed Abdel Aal, and Hatem Abdel Aal, who serves as a municipal council member. Local sources confirmed the troops subsequently withdrew with the three detainees, marking another intense incident despite the cessation of hostilities agreement in place since November 2024.
Prisoner Release Discrepancies and the Red Cross Handover
The planned release of five Lebanese nationals has faced logistical delays and differing accounts regarding numbers. According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, the decision to free the five individuals was tied to ongoing efforts to locate and return the remains of Jewish community leaders killed in Lebanon during the mid-1980s civil war. The official Israeli broadcaster identified the first released individual as Malek Kamal Razi, describing him as a Hezbollah operative arrested in October 2025 in the southern town of Ain Ata. Razi was transferred via the Naqoura crossing to the Red Cross and subsequently to the Lebanese Army for medical examinations.
In contrast, a senior Lebanese military official told Anadolu Agency that Beirut had received only one prisoner through the Red Cross, without providing further specifics. Channel 12 reported that Israel intended to release five prisoners in coordination with the United States as part of ongoing talks with Beirut, though an internal security source confirmed that the handover of the remaining four detainees was postponed until Friday morning. Meanwhile, sources quoted by Reuters noted that a total of 35 Lebanese remain detained in Israel, including 20 civilians.
Diplomatic Framework and High-Level Reactions
The prisoner file remains a core component of diplomatic discussions that began following the signing of the Framework Agreement in Washington on June 26, 2026. Negotiators have held subsequent talks in Rome, backed by Washington, aimed at ending the state of hostilities and building a path toward permanent peace and security. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa for their mediation efforts, emphasizing that the safe return of any freed citizen marks an important step toward resolving the broader missing persons file.
At the same time, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Israel during a meeting with Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Short Schortsma, accusing Tel Aviv of violating the framework agreement through continuous bombardment, destruction of southern border villages, and the leveling of property. Aoun also reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to maintaining the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south past its 2026 expiration, emphasizing that the military remains fully dedicated to its duties in designated areas despite ongoing regional instability.
Did You Know? UNIFIL has maintained a presence in southern Lebanon since 1978 under United Nations Security Council resolutions to monitor the cessation of hostilities and assist in maintaining regional security.
Worth a look