Few politicians command as much respect among Palestinians as Marwan Barghouti, the most prominent Palestinian prisoner currently serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison.
The former West Bank leader of the Fatah party remains the most popular political figure in the occupied Palestinian territories, despite the fact that an entire generation of Palestinians has come of age since his imprisonment over two decades ago.
Some see him as the Palestinian equivalent of Nelson Mandela—a long-imprisoned leader they believe can guide them to freedom.
To Israel, however, Barghouti is regarded as one of the most high-profile terrorists. At 66, he was sentenced in 2002 for orchestrating attacks that killed five civilians during the Second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising. Barghouti denied the charges and rejected the legitimacy of the court that convicted him.
Now, Hamas is demanding Barghouti’s release as part of a potential Gaza ceasefire deal—an ask that could dramatically alter the Palestinian political landscape. Given Barghouti’s popularity and his perceived ability to unite Palestinians and lead them toward statehood, Israel is highly unlikely to agree to his release.
Palestinian factions have attempted to secure his freedom multiple times, including in ceasefire negotiations during the current war. But Israel has repeatedly refused to consider releasing him.
In August, Barghouti’s son, Arab Barghouti, told CNN’s Becky Anderson that Israel is unwilling to free his father because Prime Minister Netanyahu “doesn’t want a partner for peace.”
Marwan Barghouti, who was immensely popular when he was imprisoned over two decades ago, remains widely regarded as a leader—perhaps the only one—capable of uniting Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority (PA), based in the West Bank, is deeply mired in corruption and undermined by severe Israeli restrictions, leaving it weak and financially strained.
“He is seen as a national hero, a man of integrity, untainted by corruption,” said Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. “A unifier who can reconcile with Hamas and unite all Palestinians.”
Shikaki, who has tracked Palestinian public opinion for decades, noted that Barghouti remains by far the most popular Palestinian leader, the only secular nationalist who could realistically win an election.
“All other presidential candidates, whether Islamists or nationalists, can’t defeat him,” Shikaki added, suggesting that Barghouti would likely secure at least 60% of the vote in a free election.
‘Successor to Abbas’
Shikaki described Barghouti as a “realist” and a “tough negotiator” who would be able to broker a credible peace with Israel based on a two-state solution—one that could garner broad Palestinian support.
His release, Shikaki argued, would be a major victory for Hamas and could shift the political mood among Palestinians, fostering optimism and increased activism.
“Barghouti would be seen as the natural successor to Mahmoud Abbas,” he said, referring to the current PA president, whose leadership is increasingly criticized as lacking democratic legitimacy after 20 years in power. “Demand for Abbas’ resignation would rise significantly.”
This is also why Israel is likely to staunchly oppose Barghouti’s release. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long rejected the idea of an independent Palestinian state, and his policies have often undermined the PA, which aspires to govern a future Palestinian state.
A Long History of Activism
Barghouti’s career as an activist began in his teens. He spent four years in prison for joining Fatah, which was banned by Israel at the time, when he was just 15. After his release, he studied history and political science and continued his rise through the ranks. Eventually, he became Fatah’s secretary general in the West Bank and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the PA’s parliament.
His current popularity and influence stem in part from his reputation as a charismatic and pragmatic politician, willing and able to collaborate with different Palestinian factions. Though Israel barred him from entering Ramallah, where he grew up, for many years, Barghouti returned in 1994 after the Oslo Accords, which were intended to be a step toward peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
However, it is his time in prison that has solidified his status as a symbol of resistance. Barghouti has largely been cut off from the outside world, with his images and videos surfacing only sporadically.
According to his family and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Barghouti has been in solitary confinement since the current Gaza war began.
The last public footage of him was in a short video released by Israel’s far-right security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, who filmed himself taunting Barghouti in prison. Barghouti appeared frail and unwell, sparking concern. His wife, Fadwa, expressed shock at his condition, stating that she didn’t immediately recognize him, and remarked, “Maybe part of me doesn’t want to acknowledge everything that your face and body express.”
A spokesperson for Ben Gvir, without mentioning Barghouti by name, said the minister had received assurances from Netanyahu that no “symbols,” referring to prominent prisoners, would be released in any potential prisoner exchange with Hamas.
The ongoing debate over Barghouti’s future highlights the deep divisions in Israeli-Palestinian politics and the significant role he plays in the struggle for Palestinian statehood.
