Key facts
- Hassan Yousef, a co-founder and senior leader of Hamas in the West Bank, has been released from Israeli custody.
- Yousef, 71, had been held without trial under administrative detention since October 2023.
- He was released near the southern West Bank city of Hebron and taken to a hospital in Ramallah.
- Yousef helped establish Hamas in the 1980s.
- He has been arrested multiple times by Israeli authorities over the years.
Hassan Yousef, a prominent co-founder and senior leader of Hamas in the occupied West Bank, has been released from Israeli custody. He was held under administrative detention without trial since October 2023. Yousef, 71, was reportedly freed near Hebron and taken to a hospital in Ramallah.
Israeli authorities have arrested Yousef multiple times over the years. He was previously released in July 2020 after spending 16 months in administrative detention. Yousef helped establish Hamas in the 1980s alongside Ahmad Yassine and other members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Separately, Saudi Arabia has resumed receiving Lebanese exports after a five-year disruption. This move is seen as significant for Lebanon's economy, potentially reviving key export markets and offering a lifeline to its struggling industrial and agricultural sectors. Economists note that Saudi Arabia was a major importer of Lebanese goods, with exports totaling approximately $240 million in 2020. The reopening of this market is expected to boost foreign currency inflow into Lebanon, supporting its monetary stability.