Exclusive: Qatar pushes to secure Marwan Barghouti's release in Gaza prisoner exchange deal

Qatar, with US backing, is pressing for detained senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti to be included in a landmark Gaza prisoner exchange, after Israeli negotiators withdrew earlier signals of approval for his release.

Earlier reports suggested that the Israeli security delegation had initially indicated it would accept Barghouti's release, after Hamas placed his name on its proposed lists.

However, The New Arab's Arabic edition has learned that Israel later reversed its position and removed his name from consideration.

Sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Qatari mediation was now focused on reinstating Barghouti's inclusion in the final agreement, viewing it as central to the credibility and significance of the Gaza deal.

The same source confirmed that the Palestinian lists also included other prominent figures, including Ahmad Sa'adat, secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), as well as senior Hamas leaders Hassan Salameh and Ibrahim Hamed.

It said there was also a "negotiating battle" over the potential release of senior Hamas commanders Abbas al-Sayyid and Abdullah al-Barghouti, whom Israel strongly opposes from including on the list.

The sources also revealed that the ongoing negotiations had included the release of elite members of the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, who were captured on 7 October 2023.

US President announced early on Thursday that Hamas and Israel had agreed to the first phase of his Gaza peace plan in a major step to end the war on the besieged enclave.

Celebrations broke out across Gaza following the announcement, with Palestinians marking the end of two years of relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 67,000 people and wounded nearly 170,000, the vast majority civilians.

Hamas officials said they were awaiting final agreement on the prisoner lists before announcing the names to the public.

Marwan Barghouti is a prominent Palestinian political activist and leader, born on June 6, 1959, in Kobar, West Bank. He rose to prominence as a youth leader before and during the first Palestinian Intifada (1987-1993), gaining a reputation for his leadership and charisma. Barghouti was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1996 and became a key figure in Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political party.

During the Second Intifada (2000-2005), Barghouti led Fatah's Tanzim organisation, which took part in protests in the West Bank, but was accused by Israel of orchestrating armed attacks on civilians, including the murder of a priest, something he strongly denies. He was arrested in 2002 and sentenced in 2004 to five consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in prison for what was claimed to be his involvement in multiple deadly attacks although rights groups said the Palestinian leader wasn't given a fair trial.

Despite his imprisonment, he remains highly influential within Palestinian politics and is often viewed as a leading candidate to succeed Mahmoud Abbas.