Hamas is demanding that Israel release a high-profile Palestinian terror mastermind and political leader, whom some Palestinians consider a Nelson Mandela-like figure.
As part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan has called for the release of Marwan Barghouti.
Barghouti, 64, was the leader of the late Yasser Arafat’s Fatah party, Hamas’ main political opponent in the Gaza Strip.
He was arrested in Ramallah in the West Bank in 2002 and is serving multiple life sentences for carrying out numerous deadly attacks during the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s.
“Hamas wants to show the Palestinian people that they are not a closed movement. They represent part of the Palestinian social community. They want to appear responsible. “Hamas has expressed interest in releasing popular figures from rival parties,” said Qadura Fares, who heads the Ministry of Palestinian Prisoners of War in the occupied West Bank.
Many Palestinians see Barghouti as the natural successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose military presence in Gaza was overrun by Hamas in 2007.
Palestinians have not held elections since 2006, when Hamas won a majority in parliament.
Fares explained that if Barghouti is released, he could become a candidate for Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions to rally around.
A poll released in December showed Barghouti remains the most popular politician among Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Israeli negotiators are keen to free the remaining 100 hostages held by Hamas since the October 7 terrorist attack.
with post wire
