Khaberni - The "Financial Times" published a detailed report on the current situation of prominent Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti, after Israel refused to release him as part of the latest prisoner exchange deal with Hamas in Gaza, which took place last week under a ceasefire agreement.
The newspaper stated that this deal resulted in the release of about two thousand Palestinian detainees, while Barghouti remained out of the deal, despite being one of the most prominent names on the "VIP" list that Hamas requested to complete the exchange.
Barghouti, 66 years old, is serving five life sentences since his arrest in 2002 for his role in the Second Intifada, and leading "armed groups" affiliated with the Fatah movement.
Since his arrest, Barghouti, dubbed the "Mandela of the Palestinians," has become a political symbol, uniting various Palestinian factions including Fatah, Hamas, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He is seen as a leader capable of unifying the Palestinian ranks and supporting a peaceful transition of power through elections, according to statements by his son Arab Barghouti and family insiders.
The "Financial Times" clarified that Israeli officials oppose the release of prominent figures like Barghouti, fearing that their influence could increase incitement and weaken the security situation within the occupied territories.
Retired Israeli Brigadier General Amir Avivi told the newspaper that "Israel is willing to release those who committed major crimes, but symbolic figures, like Barghouti, are not wanted to be released as they would increase incitement and affect the security situation," he said.
The newspaper confirmed that the conditions of Barghouti's imprisonment worsened since the escalation of the war in Gaza in October 2023, where he spent about two years in solitary confinement in Israeli prisons and was beaten multiple times, according to his lawyers, family, and former prisoners.
Nevertheless, Barghouti continued his activities inside the prison, organizing educational classes within the prisons, and encouraging Palestinian prisoners to pursue distance learning and obtain academic degrees, making him an influential symbol for Palestinians even from behind bars, according to the report.
The "Financial Times" stated that Barghouti's political stance differs from the current Palestinian Authority, as he represents a moderate and unifying voice that could enhance the political process, making it more acceptable among the various Palestinian factions, including Hamas, which had previously supported his release as a unifying force for Palestinians.
Although Barghouti has not been publicly seen for years, the newspaper reported that his appearance in a short video published in August on right-wing Israeli Telegram channels, where he was addressed by the extreme Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, sparked wide interest among Palestinians.
Ben-Gvir threatened Barghouti, but the short video did not fully show Barghouti's reply, while the family reported that his response was sarcastic and clever, expressing both his steadfast and moderate stance at the same time.
The newspaper underscored that the issue of Barghouti remains central in both Palestinian and Israeli politics, and that his non-release reflects Tel Aviv's sensitivity towards influential political symbols within the Palestinian community, although the recent prisoner exchange deal represents an important step towards conditional stability in Gaza after the recent war.
