Israel Releases Five Lebanese Civilian Detainees

Israel has released five civilians detained in southern Lebanon, but only one had reached the Lebanese army by Thursday. The International Committee of the Red Cross transferred Malek Ghazi to the army, which took him to an intelligence headquarters in the southern city of Tyre.

The four other detainees, identified by a Lebanese official as two Lebanese and two Syrians, were due to be released later. The official said the move would serve as a prelude to the continuation of Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome, while requesting anonymity.

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It was decided to release five Lebanese civilians who were arrested in areas under Israeli army control in southern Lebanon.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the five men had been arrested in areas under Israeli army control. “After their interrogation was completed, it became clear that they are civilians who are not members of any terrorist organization, have not engaged in terrorism, and there is no reason to continue holding them in Israel.”

Lebanon has not publicly given a total for the people Israel seized during the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war and a subsequent 2026 conflict. Families and a committee handling the cases have compiled a list of more than 30 people, including at least one Syrian national and several Hezbollah fighters.

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After their interrogation was completed, it became clear that they are civilians who are not members of any terrorist organization, have not engaged in terrorism, and there is no reason to continue holding them in Israel.

Netanyahu’s office said the release followed extensive Israeli and Lebanese efforts to locate and return the remains of leaders of Lebanon’s Jewish community who were abducted and killed during the country’s 15-year civil war. After talks in Rome last month, a Lebanese official said Israel provided a list of people whose remains Beirut wants returned. The Israeli military said in August that it had recovered the remains of a soldier killed in eastern Lebanon in 1982.

The ICRC described the transfers as a humanitarian operation. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam thanked the American administration for its efforts and pledged to pursue the release of all Lebanese prisoners, determine the fate of missing people, and secure an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. The United States, which sponsors the talks, praised Israel and Lebanon for showing “good faith through these initial steps.”

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Good faith through these initial steps.