The Magistrate's Court ordered the release of all 11 Israeli civilians — six minors and five adults — who were detained by the IDF yesterday after crossing the border into Lebanon. The court rejected a police request to extend their detention and imposed restrictive conditions, including a ban from the northern region until November 1, 2026, according to Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio).
The Magistrate's Court in Israel today ordered the release of all 11 Israeli civilians — six minors and five adults — who were detained by the IDF after crossing into Lebanon on Wednesday. The court rejected a police request to extend their detention and imposed restrictive conditions, including a ban from the northern region until November 1, 2026, according to Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio).
The incident began on Wednesday afternoon when the IDF reported that approximately 15 Israeli civilians arrived at the Ghajar area, damaged the border fence, and crossed into Lebanese territory. IDF and Border Police forces located them and returned them to Israel. The group was identified as activists from the Uri Tzafon movement, who claimed to have spent hours inside Lebanon before being detained. The IDF condemned the incident as a serious criminal offense that endangers troops and disrupts operational activity, calling for legal action. Police later announced they would seek to extend the detention of 11 of the individuals, including six minors, with the stated aim of promoting Jewish settlement in Lebanon.
The court's decision came after a hearing today, where police had requested an extension. The court rejected the request, ordering immediate release under the restrictive conditions. The case is separate from the ongoing security situation in southern Lebanon, where the IDF continues operations against Hezbollah. As The Zioneer reported earlier this week, the IDF issued an evacuation warning for a southern Lebanon village and struck Hezbollah targets. Additionally, The Zioneer reported on July 29 that three Israeli civilians were detained after crossing into Syria, a similar incident of unauthorized border crossing.
The exact circumstances of the crossing and the motives of the group remain under investigation. The court's decision does not address potential criminal charges for the border crossing itself, which the IDF has called a criminal offense.
21 developments
- StrongThree Israeli civilians detained by IDF after crossing into Syria
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- StrongIranian source warns Israel has until morning to halt Lebanon operations
- StrongLebanese army calls on residents to slow return to southern border towns, citing Israeli aerial surveillance
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