Tel Aviv, Mar. 3, (dpa/GNA) – Israel released five Lebanese prisoners as the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that Israel and Lebanon plan to hold diplomatic talks on several contentious issues, including their disputed land border.

As a goodwill gesture to newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and in coordination with the United States, Israel had agreed to release the five Lebanese inmates.

The announcement came after representatives from Israel, the United States, France and Lebanon met on Tuesday in the Lebanese city of Naqoura. It was agreed that three joint working groups would be set up to tackle the issues.

US special envoy Morgan Ortagus confirmed the prisoner release in a post on X, saying that “military to military talks concluded” in Naqoura and “subsequently 5 Lebanese prisoners have been released back to Lebanon from Israel.”

“Everyone involved remains committed to maintaining the ceasefire agreement and to fully implement all its terms,” she added.

The diplomatic discussions will address five strategic points where Israel’s army remains stationed in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire deal, as well as Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

The primary goal, according to Netanyahu’s office, is to stabilize the region.

A ceasefire has been in place between the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and Israel since November.

However, Lebanon’s leadership views the continued presence of Israeli troops at the five contested points as a violation of the agreement.

Tensions between the two nations have flared repeatedly in the past, particularly due to disputes over several areas along their shared border.

The ceasefire agreement reportedly also includes provisions for negotiations regarding the contested Blue Line border.

GNA