2 Syrians held in Israel to be released in prisoner exchange

With the help of Russian mediation, Damascus is securing the release of two Syrians held in Israel in exchange for releasing an Israeli woman that entered Syria by mistake, Syria’s official news agency reported Wednesday.

The report did not provide details on when the Syrians were taken prisoners in Israel or when the Israeli woman entered Syria.

The SANA news agency said the two Syrians are natives of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Nihal al-Makt, one of the Syrians, comes from a family of a number of former prisoners in Israeli prisons. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed it in 1981, a move that is not recognized internationally.

Al-Makt was sentenced last year to three years in prison with hard labor after she was detained in 2017. Her brother was the longest-held prisoner in Israeli jails after spending nearly 30 years there. He was released in an exchange of prisoners last year, also mediated by Russia, that came after Syria returned the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in a 1982 battle.

The other Syrians is Ziyab Qahmouz, who was detained in 2016 and sentenced for 14 years.

SANA said the Israeli woman entered Syria's Quneitra province by mistake and was taken into Syrian custody.

Israeli officials declined to comment. There was no immediate Russian comment.

Israeli media reported late Tuesday that the Israeli government had convened for deliberations regarding a recent incident related to Syria. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that communication with Damascus, related to humanitarian issues, were mediated by Russia.