An Israeli citizen from the Negev region who crossed the border into Lebanon earlier this month has been returned to Israel. United Nations peacekeeping forces coordinated the man's return.
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The citizen, a member of Israel's Bedouin community in his 20s, apparently suffers from a mental illness.
Upon his arrival in Israel via the border fence in Rosh Hanikra in northern Israel, IDF Spokesperson Ran Kochav said the man had been taken for questioning by security officials. The spokesperson said that the issue had been handled by officials of the Defense and Foreign ministries while the citizen was in Lebanon.
"This is a sensitive event," Kochav emphasized, noting efforts were being made to ensure the citizen's safety while in Lebanon and now in Israel.
"It is unclear why he crossed into Lebanon, what was going through his mind, and why he did it. He crossed on foot at the center of the Lebanese border area. We tracked him. We think he acted of his own volition. When they [security forces] finish interrogating him, we will understand what his motive was."
Kochav further noted that the young man was mentally unwell and had a criminal record.
"This is a humanitarian incident" or something along those lines, Kochav said. "When we learn the details, we will make them public."
Further details concerning the incident remain under gag order.
Earlier this year, an Israeli from the center of the country was returned to Israel after crossing the border into Syria along the demilitarized zone separating the Israeli and Syrian Golan Heights. The woman was sentenced to eight months in prison for entering enemy territory. In return for her release, Jerusalem agreed to free two shepherds detained by Israeli security forces in a Russian-mediated deal. At the time, reports circulated that Israel had further committed to procuring hundreds of thousands of Russian-manufactured Sputnik vaccines for Syria in return for the woman's release.
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