Israel has released young man Malik Kamal Ghazi and will hand over four others, ahead of a new round of negotiations in Rome on border demarcation and the recovery of detainees and missing persons.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel has decided to release five Lebanese civilians after verifying they do not belong to any armed organization. Israel handed over Ghazi at the Naqoura crossing and the Lebanese Army received him for medical examinations, and will hand over the other four on Friday morning.
Netanyahu's statement said the decision came as part of negotiations to recover the remains of leaders from the Jewish community killed in Lebanon in the mid-1980s, noting joint efforts in recent months that included field operations to search for remains.
Ghazi, aged 20, disappeared in October 2025 while hiking in the town of Ain Atta in Rashaya district. Ministry sources confirmed he does not belong to Hezbollah and Israel had not previously informed Lebanon of information about him.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the return of any freed Lebanese constitutes an important step and thanked the American administration and Ambassador Michel Aoun for efforts made. He stressed continuing work until all detainees are released and the fate of missing persons is determined and Israeli forces completely withdraw from Lebanese territory.
Informed sources said the release came after American pressure, particularly following Ambassador Aoun's meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and urging a positive step before the upcoming round of negotiations.
Lebanon submitted a list during the last Rome round naming 32 civilian detainees and Hezbollah members, requesting permission for the Red Crescent to meet with them. Israel refused, while Israel had not previously informed Lebanon of details of the current release.
The Israeli delegation requested the recovery of remains of 12 Jewish persons killed in Lebanon during the civil war. The Lebanese delegation handed over photographs of Jewish cemeteries during the negotiations but without identifying the requested remains.
President Joseph Aoun said Israel continues to violate the framework agreement through continued bombardment and destruction of southern villages it occupies and bulldozing of homes and property. He stressed that the Army is carrying out its full role in model areas.
Aoun said that reconstructing the south is the responsibility of the Lebanese state but cannot be done under continued Israeli occupation. He welcomed any international assistance, especially as countries have agreed to hold an international conference to provide support.
