Israeli authorities have released senior Hamas figure Hassan Yousef after more than 31 months in administrative detention, Palestinian sources said on Thursday.
Yousef, 70, was released after his detention order had been renewed five consecutive times since his arrest at the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
One of the most prominent Hamas leaders in the occupied West Bank, Yousef has spent more than two decades in Israeli prisons over the course of his political career, including multiple periods of administrative detention.
Administrative detention allows Israeli authorities to hold individuals without formal charges or trial for renewable periods based on security assessments.
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According to Palestinian sources, Yousef’s detention was repeatedly extended throughout his imprisonment.
The veteran Hamas leader is reported to suffer from a number of health problems that developed or worsened during years of detention. Palestinian sources have frequently raised concerns about his health, citing his age and need for ongoing medical care.
Yousef has long been regarded as one of Hamas’s most influential political figures in the West Bank and has played a prominent role in Palestinian political life for decades.
He is also known for advocating Palestinian national unity and has been involved in various political and national initiatives throughout his career.
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