Marwan Barghouti removed from prisoner exchange list by Israel: Report

Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti has reportedly revealed that the Israeli prime minister's office removed his name from a prisoner exchange list at the last minute, undermining the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian political figure, was seen as a key candidate for exchange in return for 48 Israeli captives held in Gaza. He is widely regarded as a unifying figure within the Palestinian community.

Hamas has demanded the release of long-imprisoned Fatah leader Barghouti and other high-profile prisoners, including Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Secretary-General Ahmad Saadat and chief Qassam Brigades engineer and leader, Abdullah Barghouti. Senior Hamas leader Abbas al-Sayed is also on the list.

Middle East Eye quoted what it called a source close to Barghouti as saying that mediators, including US envoy Steve Witkoff, had approved Barghouti's inclusion. However, an Israeli spokesperson later stated that he would not be part of the release.

The removal of Barghouti's name, along with that of other leaders, such as Ahmed Saadat and Hassan Salama, may complicate the ceasefire negotiations as parties work to restore their inclusion.

Barghouti's freedom is a crucial issue that could threaten prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's regime. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has expressed strong opposition to Barghouti's release.

Despite this challenge, Barghouti's wife is actively lobbying negotiators in Cairo for his inclusion in the exchange agreement.

A Hamas official has indicated that mediators are striving to finalize the list of prisoners to be released. The ceasefire arrangement, reached between Israel and Hamas, aims to exchange Israeli captives for 2,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

Barghouti, imprisoned since 2002 and currently in solitary confinement, is a senior figure in Fatah and remains popular among Palestinians. Polls suggest he would easily win a presidential election if given the opportunity.

Both Egypt and Qatar have been pushing for his release as part of the ceasefire discussions. His release has been a longstanding request from resistance groups and is perceived as a threat to the current leadership of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Despite his imprisonment, he commands widespread support among Palestinians and is seen as a potential leader capable of unifying divided factions.

In a notable incident earlier this year, Ben-Gvir visited Barghouti in prison and threatened him on camera, warning that those who oppose Israel would face severe consequences. This marked the first public sighting of Barghouti in years.

Israeli minister to Barghouti: 'We will obliterate' Palestinians

Ben Gvir blatantly said to Barghouti: “Whoever messes with the people of Israel, we will obliterate them. You will not defeat us.”

During the confrontation, Ben Gvir blatantly said to Barghouti: “Whoever messes with the people of Israel, whoever murders our children, whoever murders our women, we will obliterate them. You will not defeat us.”

Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for his role in Palestinian resistance efforts, has remained a significant figure in Palestinian politics.

In May 2024, senior officials from the Palestinian Authority, including Hussein al-Sheikh, the top liaison with Israel, indicated to mediators that they were not in favor of Barghouti’s release.

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