Lebanon releases two Palestinians after Israeli phone codes triggered detention
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam dismissed claims that Mossad agents were captured, stating the men entered legally and were questioned before their release.
By Madison Lewis ·
Lebanese authorities released two Palestinian men on Sunday after holding them for questioning over phone numbers with Israeli country codes. The government moved quickly to counter circulating reports that the men were Mossad operatives, labeling the spy story as fake news.
Both detainees are from Ramallah. They were detained after hotel staff at the Lancaster Eden Bay in Beirut noticed the pair used Israeli numbers to reserve rooms. An Uber driver and hotel employees alerted security forces, which launched an investigation.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized the spread of the rumors, describing the situation as a moral bankruptcy. In a statement from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, his office claimed that hostile groups tried to mislead public opinion and tarnish the Prime Minister's reputation.
Security officials confirmed that both men had entered Lebanon legally. Records showed that the pair had visited the country previously. The government rejected a subsequent rumor that Salam had deported the men instead of keeping them in custody. That second claim angered anti-Israel factions within Lebanon.
The episode has intensified scrutiny of intelligence activity in the region. Tensions rose following the pager plot in September 2024. In that operation, thousands of booby-trapped devices exploded across Lebanon and Syria. Hezbollah stated that most casualties were its members, though civilians also suffered severe injuries.
