Israel will release five Lebanese detainees as a goodwill gesture towards Lebanon’s new president, following a meeting involving key representatives and the establishment of joint working groups to promote regional stability. Despite a ceasefire agreement, Israeli military operations against Hezbollah continue, emphasizing the ongoing complexities in Israeli-Lebanese relations.
On Tuesday, Israel announced its decision to release five Lebanese detainees held during wartime, an act deemed a goodwill gesture towards Lebanon’s newly inaugurated president. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, highlights a coordination with the United States and reflects a diplomatic approach amidst ongoing border discussions.
The agreement followed a collaborative meeting in Naqoura, involving representatives from Israel, the United States, France, and Lebanon, aimed at fostering stability in the region. According to the statement, three joint working groups will be established to address significant issues, including the disputed areas along the Blue Line and the matter of Lebanese detainees presently in Israeli custody.
Moreover, report findings indicate that these detainees, captured in military engagements, comprise both civilians and armed personnel, as confirmed by Morgan Ortagus, the US deputy special envoy for the Middle East. With negotiations ongoing, Israel and Lebanon are striving to resolve their border disputes, as recently established by an understanding involving a US-French mediated ceasefire.
Although a truce was achieved on 27 November to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which included intense ground troop engagements, Israeli airstrikes have continued sporadically to disrupt Hezbollah operations. The ceasefire mandates that Hezbollah withdraw to a specified distance from the border and dismantle military bases within southern Lebanon. Despite plans for a full personnel withdrawal from Lebanese territories by mid-February, Israel has opted to maintain a strategic military presence in five locations deemed critical.
Israel’s agreement to release five Lebanese detainees marks a significant diplomatic gesture aimed at improving relations with Lebanon’s new president. It reflects ongoing discussions to stabilize the region while simultaneously addressing contentious border issues, including the Blue Line. The ceasefire agreement remains fragile, with Israel continuing military operations to restrict Hezbollah’s activities, highlighting the complex dynamics of Israeli-Lebanese relations post-conflict.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
