By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the progress achieved in the “urgent humanitarian” issue involving the return of the two abducted Israeli soldiers held by Hezbollah and the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel.
His spokesperson, Michele Montas, told the daily press briefing Monday that Ban “looks forward to the signing and the full implementation of the negotiated agreement in the near future.
“He hopes that the envisaged humanitarian moves will encourage further steps on implementing other parts of the resolution (1701) and contribute to further humanitarian moves,” she said.
The resolution called for the release of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev whose capture by Hezbollah ignited a month-long war between Israel and the militant group.
Israel’s Cabinet overwhelmingly agreed Sunday to trade Goldwasser and Regev’s bodies for a number of Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Kantar, a long-time Lebanese prisoner held in an Israeli jail for attacks against Israeli targets.