Israel announces release of five Lebanese hours after abducting three in border village

The US has expressed commendation for Lebanon and Israel on a plan to release five Lebanese citizens detained in occupied southern Lebanon. This development comes after Israel's recent abduction of three individuals from a Lebanese village near the occupied Golan Heights, an act that has sparked outrage among local residents. The five individuals being released are civilians, according to the Israeli military, with no ties to terrorism.

The release of these detainees is linked to ongoing talks regarding the return of bodies of Jewish community leaders killed in Lebanon during the 1980s.

On the same day of the release, Israel conducted a raid in Halta, a village primarily inhabited by Sunni Muslims and situated within Israel's security zone in southern Lebanon. Local officials and witnesses reported that the raid lasted for several hours, leading to the abductions of three men, who were subsequently taken away. Haitham Abdel Aal, a local official, stated that villagers endured a period of intense fear and uncertainty, with no information about the whereabouts of the abducted individuals.

Among the five released detainees was Malek Ghazi, who had been missing since October of the previous year. He was identified and handed over to the Lebanese army at the Naqoura crossing with assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ghazi was arrested while walking near Mount Hermon. According to Netanyahu's office, Israeli officials concluded that the detainees were civilians, not involved in terrorism, and thus had no reason for continued detention.

Lebanon welcomed the release, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressing gratitude to the US administration and its ambassador in Lebanon for their efforts. The safe return of Lebanese citizens represents a critical step towards resolving issues related to the abductions. The US State Department attributed the finalization of the release to talks between Netanyahu and the US ambassadors to both countries.

However, the same day, the Israeli military initiated a raid in Halta, resulting in multiple arrests and searches in the village. About 300 military personnel participated in the operation, leading to extensive searches and the questioning of residents. The villagers reported enduring four hours of terror, with Israeli soldiers entering homes, ordering residents to remain indoors, and making multiple phone calls to gather information about the residents.

Since March 2, a total of seven Lebanese individuals have been abducted in Halta, with no official count of those held by Israel. The Lebanese Association for Prisoners and Released Detainees reported 36 such cases last month. Despite direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in recent months, Israel has reportedly shown reluctance to make significant breakthroughs regarding the release of detainees.