Hamas demands release of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in 1st stage of prisoner swap deal

CAIRO – 9 August 2024: Hamas has asked to release the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan El Barghouti and other Palestinian faction leaders in the first round of the prison swap deal that is being under indirect negotiations with Israel, sources told Sky News Arabia on Friday.

Hamas’ demand has been supported by mediators and the US as Barghouti has great popularity in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, sources added.

The sources added that Hamas’ demand comes because it sees that it has no power to rule the Gaza Strip and reckons that “Barghouti is the most proper person to rule Gaza.”

Al Ghad reported on June 6 that Hamas has asked for releasing Marwan Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmed Saadat, Hamas Military commander in the West Bank Ibrahim Hamed and Hamas senior leader Abbas al-Sayed.

Barghouti is a prominent leader in the Fatah Movement and participated in the first Intifada in 1987 and the second Intifada in 2000. He was arrested several times by Israel for his anti-occupation activities and also survived several assassination attempts by Israeli occupation forces.

Bathgouti, who was born in Ramallah in 1959, was sentenced to five life imprisonments for charges of killing five Israelis “being a member of a terrorist organization,” Al Jazeera reported on October 28, 2014.

He speaks Hebrew fluently and studied international relations. He also was elected as a member of the first Palestinian Legislative Council.

Barghouti has been seen as a threat to the current Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas, in case he was released and run for the legislative election of the authority. It is worth mentioning that imprisoned Barghouti has announced a list of names to be competitors to Abbas in the 2021 elections under the title of “the List of Freedom.” His Lawyer Fadwa Baroughti and Late President of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat’s nephew Nasser Al Qudwa, AFP reported on April 1, 2021, submitted the list.