“Release Marwan”… An international campaign is escalating to pressure the release of Barghouti – Algerian Dialogue

The British newspaper “The Guardian” published a report on a growing global campaign to demand the release of Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti, who is viewed by a wide segment of Palestinians as one of the most prominent leaders capable of renewing political legitimacy and leading a new Palestinian phase, in light of the ongoing negotiations over the truce in Gaza.

The newspaper reported that the international movement in support of Barghouti is expanding remarkably, with his family and civil organizations in Britain launching a new campaign aimed at putting his case at the forefront of political and diplomatic discussions after the end of the truce. The campaign began to take on a clear visual character with the spread of murals bearing the slogan “Release Marwan” in the streets of London, in addition to a huge artwork carried out in the village of Cooper near Ramallah, his hometown. Political and cultural figures are also preparing to issue a public message demanding his release.

According to The Guardian, successive opinion polls confirm Barghouti’s position, as he constantly appears as the most popular politician in the West Bank and Gaza, which reinforces the belief that he is the most prominent candidate to lead a new political phase if he is released.

The newspaper explained that Barghouti has been in Israeli prisons for more than twenty years after a trial that sentenced him to five life sentences and an additional 40 years, a trial that the Inter-Parliamentary Union described as “deeply flawed.” Israel also refused to include him in the recent exchange deals, an indication of the sensitivity of his file within the corridors of Israeli decision-making.

The newspaper also touched on the circumstances of his detention, noting that he had been subjected to solitary confinement and physical attacks since 2023. He was also prevented from visiting his family for three years, and his lawyer was only allowed to meet him five times in two years, amid the continued prevention of the International Red Cross from communicating with him.

The Guardian believes that Barghouti is considered one of the most prominent advocates of the two-state solution within the Fatah movement, but Tel Aviv is afraid of releasing him because of his ability to unite the Palestinian ranks and restore confidence in the political institutions that declined during the years of President Mahmoud Abbas’ rule.

The newspaper concluded its report by saying that the case of Barghouti is no longer just a prominent Palestinian prisoner file, but has turned into a global political symbol that reflects the complexities of the Palestinian-Zionist conflict, and with the expansion of the popular movement and international pressure, it seems that the post-truce period may witness a strong return of his file to the forefront of political discussions.