Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian leader, is not included in the list of prisoners that Israel plans to release as part of the new Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Despite Hamas’s insistence on the release of Barghouti and other high-profile figures, Israel has rejected the idea, and the final list of prisoners to be freed is still uncertain.
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk stated that discussions are ongoing with mediators regarding the release of Barghouti and other significant prisoners. Barghouti, considered a terrorist leader by Israel, is serving multiple life sentences for his involvement in attacks that resulted in the deaths of five individuals in Israel in 2004.
With the recent ceasefire in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, Hamas is expected to release around 20 Israeli hostages by Monday. In return, Israel will release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners serving sentences, along with about 1,700 individuals detained in Gaza without charge over the past two years.
Many Israelis perceive the prisoners as terrorists linked to violent acts, while many Palestinians view them as political prisoners or freedom fighters resisting decades of military occupation. The majority of the prisoners on the Israeli list are members of Hamas and Fatah arrested in the early 2000s for involvement in attacks against Israelis.
Among those to be released is Iyad Abu al-Rub, an Islamic Jihad commander convicted of orchestrating suicide bombings in Israel from 2003-05, resulting in 13 deaths. The oldest prisoner set for release is 64-year-old Samir Abu Naama, arrested in 1986 for planting explosives, and the youngest is Mohammed Abu Qatish, who was 16 when arrested in 2022 for an attempted stabbing.
Hamas has long pushed for Barghouti’s release, considering him a crucial figure in potential peace negotiations. Barghouti, seen as a potential successor to President Mahmoud Abbas, has maintained significant popularity among Palestinians. Despite being imprisoned for years, Barghouti has demonstrated leadership qualities and the ability to unite different factions within Palestinian society.
Experts suggest that Barghouti’s release could pose a threat to Israel’s current policies, as his popularity and credibility could strengthen Palestinian institutions and potentially advance steps towards statehood. However, Israel has historically resisted releasing Barghouti in previous negotiations, citing concerns over his potential impact on the political landscape.