As the world braces as hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue, the terrorist organization has issued a new demand: The release of terrorist leader Marwan Barghouti.
Barghouti is a top figure in the Palestinian Fatah party and a leader of the First and Second Intifadas, who has been in an Israeli jail for the past 20 years.
Why is the release of Marwan Barghouti part of the agreement, and what impact will this have on negotiations?
Who is Marwan Barghouti?
Barghouti, 65, has been accused by Israeli authorities of planning multiple suicide bombings against civilians and other attacks against Israelis.
He was arrested in 2002 by the IDF and was later found guilty of killing five Israelis during the Second Intifada. Barghouti was sentenced to five life sentences.
Despite his imprisonment, Barghouti still has a large influence over Fatah, and is believed by many to be able to succeed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whether the leader wants to leave office or not.
As a result, pro-Palestinian media began referring to him as the “Palestinian Nelson Mandela,” but most reports debunk this term actually being used by his followers. However, there have been large-scale campaigns for Barghouti to be released.
Some see Barghouti as a possible partner in future peace efforts since he has expressed support for negotiations for a two-state solution, unlike Hamas, which demands the absolute destruction of Israel. In 2006, he signed onto the National Conciliation Document of the Prisoners, which called for reconciliation among the various Palestinian factions and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.
However, Barghouti has also repeatedly opposed peace efforts, even strongly rejecting a proposal that would have seen a Palestinian state formed in Gaza and 97% of the West Bank.
Starting in 2014, Barghouti has encouraged the Palestinian Authority to stop cooperating with Israel and called for a Third Intifada.
During his time in prison, Barghouti has led multiple hunger strikes, getting over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails to stop eating. However, in 2004 and 2017 videos of the terrorist leader hiding in a prison bathroom eating cookies and candy and flushing down the wrappers were released while he supposedly was on the hunger strike.
Hamas has repeatedly requested Barghouti to be released in prisoner swaps throughout the years, but none of these requests have been considered by Israel. Since Oct. 7, Barghouti has been in solitary confinement in prison.
Will Marwan Barghouti be released for the Gaza hostages?
The mediators of the ongoing hostage negotiations — including the United States, Egypt, and Qatar — have accepted Hamas’ demand, according to Sky News Arabia.
Barghouti would be among the first prisoners released in exchange for the Gaza hostages if both parties accept the three-stage plan that has been negotiated for weeks.
Israel has not confirmed nor denied whether it was willing to accept this demand.
Why does Hamas want Marwan Barghouti to be released?
Hamas previously demanded his release during the negotiations in March that fell through and has supported the international campaign for his release.
The terrorist movement reportedly wants Barghouti to be freed as Hamas is certain that it cannot retain power in the Gaza Strip in the long run, according to Sky News Arabia. Hamas believes that Barghouti — who previously led Fatah’s Tanzim terrorist faction — would be a useful ally. It is believed that Hamas sees Barghouti as more aligned with its crusade against Israel than Abbas has been, as the PLO leader has previously blamed Hamas for the current war in Gaza and the continuation of the violence.
Abbas is 88 and is not well-liked among young Palestinians. The popular Barghouti is viewed to be less willing to work with Israel and less influenced by the Palestinian Authority’s rampant corruption by both younger and more radical Palestinians.
What’s next?
There is no telling whether the current hostage deal will be accepted by either Israel or Hamas. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will be in attendance for the next ceasefire negotiation meeting on August 15.
The U.S., Egypt and Qatar said it will deliver Hamas and Israel the final proposal at the meeting, though a statement from the three nations said that the details for implementation have not been fully realized.
“It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal,” wrote U.S. President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and Qatari Sheikh Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
111 hostages of the 251 initially kidnapped on Oct. 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of 39 confirmed dead. Also included in the deal will be the return of two Israelis who were taken in Gaza in 2014 and 2015 and the bodies of two IDF soldiers who were killed by Hamas in 2014.
Originally Published Aug 11, 2024 08:56PM EDT
