Israel Proposes Civilian Prisoner Exchange Deal to Lebanon Amidst Negotiations in Rome

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that during negotiations held last week in Rome, the Israeli delegation categorized Lebanese detainees into two groups: Hezbollah militants, whose status was not open for discussion, and Lebanese civilians deemed threats to Israeli forces, who were subject to detention. Israel proposed a "civilian prisoner exchange deal," offering to transfer Jewish remains from Lebanese Jewish cemeteries to Israel in exchange for the release of Lebanese civilians.

According to the report, the Lebanese delegation returned to Beirut without an agreement on the date for the eighth round of talks and without securing any Israeli commitment to a ceasefire or reduction in military activities. Sources familiar with the details told Al-Akhbar that the American side had informed Lebanon in advance that Israel was not interested in discussing the creation of a second pilot zone but preferred to focus on direct coordination mechanisms with the Lebanese army and agreeing on the identity of a third party to supervise the Lebanese army’s compliance in the first pilot zone.

Furthermore, Israel opposed the presence of any European UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon and rejected Italy as the third-party supervisor, after Spain and France were also declined. Israeli officials later indicated they proposed a Swiss force to assume this role, noting ongoing discussions with Swiss authorities and initial willingness from Switzerland to accept the task.