Israel Releases Four Lebanese Civilians Following US-Mediated Negotiations
Israel released four Lebanese civilians who were detained by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on Friday. The release follows a deal brokered by the United States, where Lebanon provided assistance in searching for the bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders who went missing during the civil war of the 1980s. These civilians, who were identified as having no links to armed groups, were handed over to the Lebanese army via the International Committee of the Red Cross. This action follows the release of Malek Ghazi, the first civilian released since the start of US-mediated talks in April. The release is part of a broader framework of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. The two countries are currently discussing a framework involving the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army. While negotiations have made little headway, the administration announced that a new round of talks is expected to take place in Rome later this month.
Sources
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Three farmers detained by Israel in Lebanon, village leader says
bbc.com
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Israel frees four more Lebanese prisoners in Red Cross-mediated handover
Al Jazeera
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