Israel has released four Lebanese civilian prisoners to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of an agreement with Lebanon. The four detainees were transferred to the ICRC on Friday, with one of them, identified as Malek Ghazi, released to the ICRC on Thursday and then handed over to the Lebanese army. Journalists from the Associated Press observed an ICRC convoy heading toward the Naqoura border crossing on Friday morning, near a checkpoint south of Tyre in southern Lebanon. Mahmoud Ayash, the brother of detainee Hussein Ayash, who was waiting at the border, said his brother had been held for over two months and had called from the Naqoura crossing to confirm his release. He expressed hope that all Lebanese prisoners in Israeli custody would be freed and that all Lebanese citizens would be liberated. The ICRC stated in a press release that the remaining prisoners had been transferred to its representatives on Friday. The organization emphasized the need for its teams to be granted access to the remaining detainees, noting that it has not had access to those held in Israel since October 2023. It also highlighted that many families in Lebanon are still waiting for information about the fate of relatives who may be detained, deceased, or otherwise unaccounted for. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office stated on Thursday that Israel agreed to release five Lebanese civilians after Lebanon provided assistance in searching for the bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders who were "abducted and murdered by terrorist organizations" during the 1980s civil war. Officials said the prisoner exchange was the result of U.S. mediation and ongoing negotiations between the two countries. However, several contentious issues remain unresolved. Lebanon and Israel, which do not have formal diplomatic relations, have engaged in rare direct talks following the outbreak of the most recent conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in March. Hezbollah launched missile attacks across the border shortly after the U.S. and Iran carried out attacks on Iran. In response, Israel conducted aerial strikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon, currently occupying a large portion of the southern region. In June, Lebanon and Israel signed a U.S.-mediated framework agreement under which Israel was to withdraw from occupied areas in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament. However, progress on implementing the deal has been limited. Hezbollah, which is not participating in the talks, has stated it will not disarm in any area north of the Litani River. Israeli officials have insisted they will not withdraw unless Hezbollah is disarmed nationwide. Another round of talks is expected to take place in Rome later this month.