Israel releases senior Hamas leader after 20 months in jail

The Israeli regime has released Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a senior leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, after keeping him in captivity for 20 months.

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs announced on Sunday the release of Sheikh Yousef, who is also a member of the Palestinian parliament, from the regime's notorious Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Information Center reported.

Yousef had been taken captive 20 times and has spent a total of 24 years in Israeli jails, mostly under its arbitrary, brutal policy of administrative detention, which allows the occupying regime to incarcerate Palestinians indefinitely without pressing formal charges or bringing them to trial.

The last time Sheikh Yousef was taken captive occurred on December 13, 2021, after Israeli military forces raided his home in the town of Beitunia, west of occupied Ramallah.

Hamas leader vows to continue defending al-Quds

Following his release, Yousef reiterated in a statement that he will continue defending the occupied city of al-Quds and the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound by all means possible.

He also declared that his last arrest was for participating in the funeral of a Palestinian martyr in al-Quds.

Israeli forces arrest senior Hamas leader in occupied West Bank

Israeli military forces arrested a senior leader of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement during a raid in the West Bank.

Sheikh Yousef is known for his advocacy for reform and support for prisoners and the oppressed.

Since 1971, he has been targeted by Israeli regime forces due to his social and political activities. He was first arrested as a child at the age of 16.

His second arrest came in the early 90s on charges of being affiliated with Hamas and ended with his deportation to Marj Zuhur in southern Lebanon along with 417 leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

He also served as a spokesperson for Hamas until he was elected as a deputy in the Legislative Council.

Hamas chief congratulates Yousef on freedom

In a telephone conversation with Yousef, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas political bureau, congratulated him on his freedom from Israeli captivity.

Haniyeh praised Yousef for his endeavors, resistance, and sacrifices to defend the Palestinian land and sanctities, saying, “He is one of the symbols of the Palestinian national struggle and stands strongly against aggressions by the occupying regime.”

He also expressed hope that all Palestinians will soon be released from Israeli prisons.

Haniyeh also emphasized that continuous Israeli attacks against the Palestinians in al-Quds and the West Bank will make them persistent in defending their homeland and rights.

Hamas: Resistance committed to liberation of Palestinian prisoners

Palestinian inmates have been subject to systematic torture, harassment, and repression.

There are reportedly more than 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Hundreds of inmates have been incarcerated under so-called administrative detention, without trial or charge.

Palestinian detainees have continuously resorted to open-ended hunger strikes in an attempt to express outrage at their illegal detention.

Israeli prison authorities keep Palestinian prisoners under deplorable conditions without proper hygienic standards. Palestinian inmates have also been subject to systematic torture, harassment, and repression.

Human rights organizations maintain that the Israeli regime continues to violate all rights and freedoms commonly granted to prisoners by the Fourth Geneva Convention and international laws.

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