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Photo: Reuters
Former Hamas spiritual leader in the West Bank Hassan Yousef
Photo: Reuters

Senior Hamas leader Hassan Yousef, son arrested

Just months after being released, former Hamas spiritual leader in West Bank once again behind bars two weeks after he took leading role in welcoming prisoners released in Shalit deal back to Ramallah

Palestinian sources reported that former Hamas spiritual leader in the West Bank Hassan Yousef and his son were arrested on Tuesday at their home in Bitunia near Ramallah.

 

Hamas reacted swiftly - condemning the arrest and claiming that it was proof of "Israeli escalation and an offense against a Palestinian symbol". This is the second time Israel has arrested Hassan Yousef, who was released from Israeli prison two months ago.

 

Related stories:

 Gaza: Masses celebrate prisoners' release

 Hamas spiritual leader released from prison

 

Yousef was released from the Ofer prison after completing a six year sentence. He was released along with 200 other Palestinian prisoners who served their sentence in full. Another 570 prisoners who served sentences for offenses not related to terror were also freed.

 


קבלת הפנים ברמאללה למשוחררי עסקת שליט (צילום: AP)

Yousef took part in ceremony welcoming prisoners to Ramallah (Photo: AP) 

 

He called on the Palestinian factions to unite against Israel and the measures it took against the Palestinians and added that "Hamas will continue its struggle until the Palestinian nation is freed from Israeli occupation".

 

Yousef is considered to be one of the founders of Hamas and during the Al-Aqsa Intifada served as one of the organization's leaders in the West Bank. In Israel he is famous because of his son Mosab Hassan Yousef, who was considered Israel's most senior informant within Hamas during the second Intifada. Yousef junior is the author of the book Son of Hamas.

 

Hassan Yousef recently made headlines as one of the central figures welcoming prisoners released in the Shalit deal. He welcomed the prisoners at the Bitunia checkpoint and encouraged people there to wave Hamas flags while stressing what an achievement the deal was for the Palestinian people.

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.01.11, 12:23
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