A major international campaign is now underway to secure the freedom of Marwan Barghouti, the prominent Palestinian political figure many consider the most credible leader for a future Palestinian state. This push for his release comes as delicate negotiations surrounding the ongoing Gaza ceasefire continue.
Who is Marwan Barghouti?
Marwan Barghouti, now 66 years old, has spent more than two decades in an Israeli prison. Despite his imprisonment, he remains a longstanding advocate for a two-state solution and is a senior member of the Fatah party. Successive opinion polls consistently show he is the most popular Palestinian politician across both Gaza and the West Bank.
His family, based in the West Bank and supported by UK civil society, is leading the charge. They aim to place Barghouti's fate at the very heart of the next phase of ceasefire discussions. The campaign has already gained visible momentum with murals appearing across London, coordinated by Calum Hall, founder of the creative platform Creative Debuts. A large public art installation has also been unveiled in Kobar, his native village near Ramallah.
A Flawed Trial and Continued Imprisonment
Barghouti was convicted by an Israeli court in 2004 for allegedly planning attacks that led to the deaths of five civilians. He received five life sentences plus 40 years. However, his trial was widely criticised. The Inter-Parliamentary Union, an international organisation of parliaments, described the legal proceedings as deeply flawed.
Even during the large-scale prisoner exchange that occurred alongside the ceasefire on 13 October, Israel refused to release him, despite intense pressure from Hamas and Gulf states. Former US President Donald Trump had even admitted he considered pushing for Barghouti's release.
Many analysts believe Israel's refusal stems from the fear that Barghouti would be an exceptionally effective spokesperson for the Palestinian cause upon his release. His wife, Fadwa Barghouti, emphasised in her first interviews with the Israeli press that her husband "sees the two-state solution as the way to move forward and live in peace."
Prison Conditions and Global Support
Barghouti's conditions in detention have been harsh. He has frequently been held in solitary confinement and has not seen his family for three years. His lawyers have only been permitted five visits in the last two years. Alarmingly, the International Committee of the Red Cross has been banned from seeing him, an act considered a breach of international law.
Since 2023, he has allegedly suffered four major beatings while in prison. Most recently, Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was captured on video taunting and threatening him with execution. The Knesset is currently reviewing a bill, backed by Ben-Gvir, that would permit the death penalty for those convicted of nationalist-motivated murder.
Despite these challenges, supporters say Barghouti remains physically and mentally capable of leadership. His son, Arab Barghouti, stated, "My father represents hope to Palestinians at a time when there are efforts to silence him and make him forgotten. Seeing people around the world raise his name gives me hope." He added that honouring his father is a call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.
A letter from a range of political and cultural figures calling for his release is expected to be published next week, further amplifying the global 'Free Marwan' campaign.
