Lebanese detainee, due to be released, still held by Israel

A fifth Lebanese detained by the Israeli army, the soldier Ziad Shebli, was not released Wednesday as expected, reported L'Orient Today's correspondent in south Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army were not reachable for comment.

Without naming him, the military institution said that contact was lost with one of its soldiers on March 9, and after investigation, "it was established that elements of the Israeli forces had opened fire on him while he was in civilian attire in the vicinity of the village of Kfar Shouba." The army stated that he was injured and transported "inside the occupied Palestinian territories."

An informed source had told L'Orient Today on Tuesday that the soldier's release was postponed to Wednesday to allow him to receive treatment for his injury.

The Lebanese presidency announced Tuesday that "Lebanon received four Lebanese prisoners and a fifth will be handed over tomorrow," Wednesday. According to L'Oreint Today's correspondent in south Lebanon, these were four civilians: Hussein Fares from Maroun al-Ras, Hussein Koteish from Houla, Sayed Ahmad Shukr from Nabi Sheet, and Mohammad Najm from Nabatieh.

These detainees were released as part of the truce agreements with Hezbollah in effect since Nov. 27, 2024. It was reportedly "a gesture towards the new Lebanese president," Aoun, according to the services of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement.

The decision was made on the sidelines of a meeting in Naqoura, on the border between Israel and Lebanon, between representatives of the Israeli army and those of Lebanon, as well as cease-fire mediators, the United States and France.