Israel releases five detainees to Lebanon after US-mediated negotiations

Israel has released five Lebanese detainees, including four who were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as part of negotiations with Lebanon to recover the remains of Jewish community leaders kidnapped in the 1980s. These detainees had been held without charge for various periods, including Malek Kamal Ghazi, who was released on September 2 and confirmed by Lebanese authorities not to be a member of Hezbollah. The release is part of a framework agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon in June, mediated by the US, which aims to resolve outstanding issues such as detention and missing persons. 35 Lebanese detainees remain in Israel, including 20 civilians, according to sources cited by Reuters. The releases are seen as a positive step towards improving relations between the two countries, which have been strained due to ongoing conflicts and invasions.