Hamas Calls for the Release of Marwan Barghouti as Part of Any Agreement with Israel

On Friday, February 2, Hamas announced that the release of Marwan Barghouti, a imprisoned leader of the 'Fatah Movement,' must be part of any agreement with Israel to end the conflict in Gaza. According to the Associated Press, Marwan Barghouti has spent over two decades in Israeli prisons but still plays a central role among Palestinian groups. The report added that this move by the militant group Hamas is aimed at garnering support from Palestinians and acknowledging Marwan Barghouti's status as a unifying figure among Palestinian factions. Qadoura Fares, the Palestinian Authority's Minister of Prisoners, told the Associated Press that Hamas is trying to show Palestinians that it is not a 'closed movement.' Osama Hamdan, a Hamas leader, also called for the release of Ahmad Sa'adat, a leader of a leftist Palestinian organization who assassinated the Israeli tourism minister in 2001. Palestinians view the 64-year-old Marwan Barghouti, who is a party member of Mahmoud Abbas, the 88-year-old president of the Palestinian Authority, as his natural successor. For some, Marwan Barghouti is likened to Nelson Mandela. However, Israelis consider Marwan Barghouti a major terrorist, and convincing Israel to release him seems very difficult. He is one of the leaders of the Palestinian anti-Israeli protests known as the 'Intifada' and has been sentenced to five life terms due to his involvement in deadly attacks against Israeli citizens. Marwan Barghouti was arrested in 2002 on multiple murder charges but refused to present a defense in court, rejecting its legitimacy. During his years in prison, he has led several hunger strikes by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel rejected calls for Barghouti's release in 2011 during a prisoner swap that freed 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one Israeli soldier. One of the released Palestinian prisoners at that time was Yahya Sinwar, who is considered one of the main architects of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 6 of this year, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of over 240 individuals. Following this, the Israeli military launched air, sea, and ground attacks aimed at destroying Hamas. Israel is seeking the release of approximately 116 live hostages who are still held by Hamas. In return, Hamas is seeking an end to the Israeli military operations aimed at destroying the group and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. The Israeli army stated that they have destroyed a Hamas rocket production facility, and the fighting in Gaza continues. The Israeli Foreign Minister claimed that 'UNRWA' is part of Hamas's killing machine and has no place in Gaza after the war. Victims of the Hamas attack on Israel have filed a lawsuit blaming the Islamic Republic. The release of 35 hostages is being negotiated in exchange for a 35-day ceasefire, with Mossad submitting a hostage exchange plan to the Israeli war cabinet. Water is reported in Hamas tunnels, and mediators are continuing ceasefire negotiations. The United States has asked Qatar to exert more pressure on Hamas for the release of hostages, while Qatar stated that it has little influence over Hamas. Hamas announced that it has received a new proposal for 'establishing a ceasefire and releasing hostages.' Israel claims to have killed three militants hiding in a hospital in the West Bank. Negotiations between the U.S. and Qatar regarding the release of Hamas hostages are ongoing.