He spent nearly three decades in prison before being released on July 16, 2008 as part of an Israel-Hezbollah prisoner swap.

A prisoner exchange or prisoner swap is a deal between opposing sides in a conflict to release prisoners.

Yet perhaps more troubling than the self-evident precedent that has been set by this particular episode are the less obvious implications of the prisoner swap.

Unlike money, the prisoner swap was hard to hide.

Karim-Obeid and Dirani were released in 2004 as part of a prisoner swap.

Maley was finally released in a prisoner swap.

Usually it is to arrange prisoner swaps or the recovery of bodies.

When he was set free on 16 May 2008 Pakistani authorities denied that his release was due to a negotiated prisoner swap.

The Irish troops remained in Katangese custody until October 25 when a prisoner swap was agreed.

On 15 January, the rival groups carried out a prisoner swap and agreed to a ceasefire.