Israel releases four Lebanese captives, agrees to join border talks

Lebanon has stated that it has received four hostages who were detained by Israel during the Israel-Hezbollah war. Concurrently, Israel has announced its agreement to hold talks to demarcate its border with Lebanon. This marks a significant step towards de-escalation and potential resolution of long-standing tensions.

The office of Lebanese President Michel Aoun confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it had received the four detainees, with the fifth detainee expected to be handed over the following day. Lebanese media, including the Lebanese National News Agency NNA, reported that the released Lebanese detainees had arrived at a hospital in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre. The safe return of these individuals is a welcome development for their families and the nation.

This transfer occurred after Israel announced on Tuesday that it had agreed to hold talks to demarcate its border with Lebanon. Israeli officials stated that the release of the five Lebanese individuals detained by the Israeli military was "a gesture to the Lebanese president." This goodwill gesture could pave the way for more constructive dialogue in the future.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement on Tuesday stating that Israel had reached an agreement with Lebanon, the United States, and France to establish a working group to discuss the border line between the two countries. Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Representative for the Middle East at the U.S. Department of State, told Lebanese television Al Jadeed that Washington hopes to "ultimately resolve the border dispute politically." The involvement of international mediators highlights the importance of finding a peaceful resolution.

She stated that the United States and France helped broker the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November and have established a "working group" to maintain the smooth functioning of the process. Ortagus added that the working group will address the border dispute between the two countries, as well as the issue of Israel's continued occupation of five strategic locations in southern Lebanon. These ongoing efforts are crucial for solidifying the ceasefire and addressing core issues.

According to Al Jazeera's correspondent Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan: "There are still many issues here... the main outstanding issue is that Israeli forces are still stationed in five different locations in southern Lebanon, areas that were supposed to be evacuated when the ceasefire agreement came into effect." The continued presence of Israeli troops remains a significant obstacle to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.