Israel has confirmed that Marwan Barghouti, one of the most prominent Palestinian figures and a longtime leader within Fatah, will not be included in the prisoner exchange component of the new Gaza ceasefire deal.
In statements to the press, government spokespersons emphasized that at “this stage” Barghouti would be excluded from the list of prisoners Israel is prepared to release. The decision reflects the position that trading Barghouti or similarly high-profile detainees would be politically and security-wise unacceptable to Israel, which regards him as a convicted terrorist serving multiple life sentences.
Barghouti, aged in his sixties, has been incarcerated since 2002, convicted by Israeli courts in connection with attacks carried out during the Second Intifada. Over the years he has become a symbol for many Palestinians of resistance and political leadership inside prison walls, with repeated calls for his inclusion in past prisoner swap negotiations.
The new ceasefire deal, brokered with U.S. and regional mediation, envisages Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages held by Hamas. However, the non-inclusion of Barghouti underscores how the lists remain contested and politically sensitive, particularly when it comes to individuals with high symbolic weight and entrenched opposition within Israeli politics.
In reaction, Hamas and its backers have pressed for the inclusion of Barghouti and other senior detainees as part of the swap, citing his stature among Palestinians and his long record as a political prisoner. But Israeli negotiators remain firm on the exclusion, even as they debate which prisoners may be released under the first phase of the agreement.
