Mashaal, who had been serving a 20-year sentence for financing Hamas through the Holy Land Foundation, was reportedly freed after serving 16 years. According to Israeli media, he will now spend the next year in a rehabilitation facility. While the U.S. government has not confirmed the release, it has been widely reported by Arab media outlets.
This release comes amid ongoing discussions about a possible hostage deal, leading to speculation that the two events might be linked. Additionally, Arab media have reported that the sentences of four other American-Palestinians associated with the Holy Land Foundation have been significantly reduced, according to Yeshiva world news reports.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a historic clemency initiative, commuting sentences for 1,500 individuals and granting pardons to 39. It remains unclear if Mashaal's release is related to this initiative.
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