First Lebanese Prisoner Released Since Israel-Hezbollah War Began
Israel released a Lebanese civilian prisoner, the first such handover since the war began, as talks remain deadlocked.
A Lebanese man held in Israeli custody was released on Thursday, marking the first prisoner handover since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict six months ago. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and two Lebanese security officials confirmed the development.
The released individual, identified as Malek Ghazi, was transferred to the Lebanese army through the ICRC, according to one security official. Another official indicated that the release of an additional prisoner was expected. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The circumstances surrounding Ghazi's capture remain unclear, though one Lebanese official described him as a civilian.
Dozens of Lebanese nationals, including civilians and Hezbollah fighters captured during fighting in southern Lebanon, are believed to be held in Israeli detention centers.
The release comes at a time when negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli officials appeared stalled. In June, the two sides signed a framework agreement under which Israeli forces were to withdraw from occupied areas in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament. However, implementation has seen little progress on the ground.
Further talks are scheduled to take place in Rome later this month.