Israel released four more Lebanese prisoners as part of a deal related to the search for Jews missing since Lebanon's civil war. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
According to the Associated Press, on Friday, four Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli prisons were released and handed over to Lebanese authorities with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross. This is part of an agreement between the two countries. Under the deal, Lebanon agreed to search for the bodies of Jewish Lebanese citizens who went missing during the country's civil war decades ago.
Dozens of Lebanese prisoners are believed to be held in Israeli detention centers, including civilians as well as Hezbollah militants captured during fighting in southern Lebanon. A total of five detainees were released under the current deal, all civilians.
The first Lebanese prisoner, identified as Malek Ghazi, was released to the International Committee of the Red Cross and then to the Lebanese army on Thursday.
Associated Press journalists waiting at a checkpoint south of the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon saw a convoy of ICRC vehicles carrying the released prisoners into Lebanon.
This event is a continuation of the prisoner exchange process between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement is expected to usher in a new phase of humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.