A Lebanese man identified as Malek Ghazi was released from Israeli detention and handed over to the Lebanese army via the International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday, September 3, 2026. ^[1] Four Lebanese prisoners held in Israel were released and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday as part of a deal between the two countries. ^[2] In return for the prisoner release, Lebanon agreed to search for the bodies of Jewish Lebanese citizens who went missing during the country's civil war decades ago. ^[3] This prisoner release represents the first such handover since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war six months ago. ^[4] Israel released one Lebanese civilian, identified as Malek Ghazi, hours after detaining the farmers, marking the first civilian release since US-mediated negotiations began in April. ^[5] Israeli military forces detained three Lebanese farmers in the southern region of Lebanon after summoning them via mobile phone to a specific location. ^[6] Issa Abedelaal, the head of the local village, confirmed the detention details to the BBC, stating the farmers were taken immediately upon arrival at the designated site. ^[7] Peace negotiations mediated by the United States remain deadlocked over verification procedures and Hezbollah's refusal to participate in the proposed 'demonstration zone'. ^[8] A total of five detainees are being released under the current deal, all of whom are civilians. ^[9] Officials said the prisoner release came as a result of U.S. mediation and as a result of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. ^[10] Lebanon and Israel signed a framework deal in June under which Israeli forces were to withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament, but little progress has been made. ^[11]