‘Israel’ to release five detained Lebanese civilians

• Dozens of Lebanese civilians remain held in ‘Israeli’ prisons without charge.

‘Israel’ is expected to release five Lebanese civilians on Thursday at the Naqoura border crossing.

According to the 'Israeli' Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the individuals slated for release were arrested by 'Israeli' forces in recent months during attacks on southern Lebanon.

‘Israeli’ officials said that those being released are civilians with no formal affiliation with Hezbollah.

In a Hebrew-language statement, the PMO said the decision to release the five detainees followed “numerous efforts” by both Lebanon and ‘Israel’ in recent months to locate Jewish remains, including ground operations.

“In light of this significant activity, it was decided to release five Lebanese civilians who were detained in areas of southern Lebanon under IDF control,” the statement said.

The PMO added that questioning had established that the detainees were civilians who were not members of a terrorist organization and had not been involved in terrorism, concluding that “there is no reason to continue holding them in Israel.”

The planned transfer is expected to occur through the Naqoura border crossing under US mediation and comes amid ongoing negotiations between Lebanese and 'Israeli' representatives in Rome mediated by US officials.

Lebanese Detainees

According to documentation compiled by the Lebanese Association for Prisoners and Freed Detainees, ‘Israel’ currently holds at least 34 documented Lebanese detainees in its interrogation centers and prisons.

Among those held are three long-term political prisoners abducted prior to recent escalations, dating back to 1978, 1981, and 2005, while the remaining 31 were seized during recent military operations in southern Lebanon.

Of those taken during recent hostilities, at least 21 are non-combatant civilians abducted from border villages.