Israel to Release Lebanese Detainees in Exchange for Information on Slain Jews

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered intensified efforts to locate and return the bodies of Jewish community leaders who were kidnapped and killed in Lebanon in the mid-1980s. The announcement came Thursday from the Prime Minister's Office, which stated that Netanyahu has been personally involved in this issue for decades, dating back to his tenure as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations.

Recent months have seen coordinated efforts between Lebanon and Israel, including field operations, to find the remains. In light of this progress, Israel has decided to release five Lebanese citizens who were detained in areas under IDF control in southern Lebanon. Investigations revealed they are not members of any armed organization and have no history of involvement in militant activities, thus negating any reason for their continued detention.

The Prime Minister's Office indicated that the decision to release the Lebanese nationals is linked to the ongoing negotiations with Lebanon concerning the fate of the Jewish victims. This move is seen as a reciprocal step to advance the search for the bodies and potentially secure their return.