Subhi Agrawal
Hamas has demanded the release of Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Fatah figure and jailed Intifada leader, as part of the first phase of a proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel, according to Arabic media reports.
Barghouti Serving Life Sentence in Israeli Prison
Sky News Arabia reported that mediators, including the United States, have agreed to include the highly popular Palestinian leader among the initial security prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages from Gaza, should Israel and Hamas finalize the long-anticipated deal. However, there was no immediate confirmation or reaction to the report from Israel.
Barghouti is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for orchestrating three terror attacks that resulted in the deaths of five Israelis during the Second Intifada.
Hamas Demands Marwan Barghouti’s Release
According to Sky News Arabia reports, Hamas is demanding Marwan Barghouti’s release, seeing him as a trusted ally who could effectively manage the Gaza Strip. The group had previously sought his release during failed negotiations in March.
Barghouti, 64, is seen as a leading candidate to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian Authority leader, especially among younger Palestinians who view him as free from PA corruption. Last year, his wife, Fadwa, launched an international campaign for his release.
The Sky News Arabia report came after Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office announced that an Israeli delegation will attend ceasefire-for-hostage talks with Hamas on August 15.
“Conclude The Ceasefire”
In a joint call, “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 hostage and detainees release deal,” said the statement signed by US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed the joint statement from the US, Egypt, and Qatar, thanking their leaders, “for their commitment to the release of the 115 hostages who have already been in Hamas captivity for 308 days,” before appealing to the government and Netanyahu to “demonstrate leadership” and finalize a deal “for the return of all the hostages.”
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