The Palestinian leader with significant popularity, Marwan Barghouti, will not be released by Israel in the prisoner exchange with Hamas as part of the new Gaza ceasefire agreement. Despite Hamas’ insistence on the release of Barghouti and other high-profile prisoners, Israel has rejected the idea, with uncertainty remaining on the final list of approximately 250 prisoners provided by the Israeli government.
Barghouti, labeled a terrorist leader by Israel, is currently serving multiple life sentences for his involvement in attacks that resulted in five fatalities in Israel in 2004. However, some experts believe that Israel’s concern about Barghouti extends beyond his past actions. As an advocate for a two-state solution while supporting armed resistance against occupation, Barghouti is perceived as a potential unifying figure for Palestinians, akin to Nelson Mandela, the former South African anti-apartheid activist who later became the country’s first Black president.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas is expected to release around 20 Israeli hostages by Monday, while Israel plans to free approximately 250 Palestinians serving prison sentences, along with about 1,700 individuals detained in Gaza over the past two years without charges. The prisoner releases carry different meanings for Israelis and Palestinians, with Israelis viewing the prisoners as terrorists involved in attacks, while many Palestinians consider them as political prisoners or freedom fighters combating decades of military occupation.
Most of the individuals on Israel’s prisoner list are Hamas and Fatah members arrested during the 2000s for their roles in attacks targeting Israeli civilians, settlers, and soldiers. Following their release, more than half of them will be relocated to Gaza or sent into exile outside Palestinian territories. The early 2000s witnessed the outbreak of the Second intifada, a violent Palestinian uprising triggered by frustrations over prolonged occupation despite peace negotiations.
Among the prisoners to be freed is Iyad Abu al-Rub, an Islamic Jihad commander responsible for orchestrating suicide bombings in Israel between 2003 and 2005 that claimed 13 lives. The oldest prisoner set for release is 64-year-old Samir Abu Naama, a Fatah member arrested in 1986 for planting explosives, while the youngest is Mohammed Abu Qatish, who was arrested at 16 in 2022 for an attempted stabbing.
Hamas has persistently pushed for Barghouti’s release in previous negotiations to end conflicts with Israel, citing his significance as a Fatah leader. Barghouti, who is considered a potential successor to President Mahmoud Abbas, has maintained popularity among Palestinians. Despite being imprisoned for years, Barghouti has displayed a knack for bridging divides within Palestinian factions and engaging with Israelis, earning him respect as a credible national leader.
Israel’s reluctance to release Barghouti stems from its historical strategy of keeping Palestinians fragmented and Abbas’ government weakened. Additionally, Barghouti’s clean record amid the corruption allegations against the Palestinian Authority poses a threat to Israel’s right-wing government, which opposes any advancements towards Palestinian statehood. Barghouti’s release is viewed as a potential catalyst for strengthening Palestinian institutions, a scenario that Israel’s government aims to prevent.
The last public sighting of Barghouti was in August, when Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, released a video reprimanding Barghouti inside a prison, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to confront any threats to the country.
