Israel to Release 5 Lebanese Prisoners as Goodwill Gesture
Israel is expected to release five Lebanese prisoners held in its custody on Thursday, in coordination with the United States. This move is described as a goodwill gesture within the framework of ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
The issue of detainees was a formal agenda item during the seventh round of talks, held in Rome in August 2026 with American mediation. Both sides reportedly exchanged initial lists of detainees and missing persons. Lebanese sources indicated that Lebanon's initial demand was the release of a group of civilian detainees.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on August 7, 2026, that "positive progress" had been made on the prisoner issue, though a final agreement on further releases had not yet been announced. This upcoming release follows a similar action in March 2025, when Israel freed five Lebanese individuals, including a Lebanese army soldier, in coordination with the U.S. and amid progress on border talks.
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