Israel to Release Five Lebanese Prisoners as 'Gesture of Goodwill'

Israel is preparing to release five Lebanese prisoners as a "gesture of goodwill" mediated by the United States, as part of ongoing diplomatic talks with Beirut, according to the Israeli military.

Citing a report by Israel's Channel 12, Al Jazeera reported that delegations from Israel and Lebanon met in Rome, Italy, last August, where the issue of prisoners and missing persons was formally brought to the agenda and initial prisoner lists were exchanged. Following the Rome talks, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that "positive progress" had been achieved regarding border and detainee issues.

Israel previously released five detained Lebanese individuals, including a soldier, in March 2025 under a similar goodwill gesture. At that time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the release was coordinated with Washington as a gesture toward the Lebanese president.

Lebanon has long demanded the release of 34 registered Lebanese detainees held by Israel. While this initiative to release five prisoners signals headway in bilateral talks, an official announcement regarding the specific timeline for their release and subsequent steps has not yet been made.