'Israel' won't release up to 100 prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
21 Dec 2024 22:02
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Earlier, reports suggested that the release of prominent Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti was a key point in the ongoing negotiations over the terms of the captive deal.

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In this Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 file photo, senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti makes the victory sign in front of the media during his arrival to testify in a trial at a court in occupied al-Quds (AP)

"Israel" plans to present a list to ceasefire mediators outlining 70 to 100 "security prisoners" it will not release as part of any agreement with the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza, the Israeli Channel 12 reported on Saturday.

The report came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that "Israel" will not include Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian leader from the first and second intifada (uprisings), in a potential captive deal.

Israeli officials also confirmed on Saturday evening that Barghouti will not be included in any deal.

Earlier, reports suggested that the release of Barghouti was a key point in the ongoing negotiations over the terms of the captive deal.

Channel 12 further confirmed a report from The Times of Israel earlier this week, which noted that Hamas has yet to provide a list of the living captives it is willing to release in the first stage of a potential deal.

In late October, Barghouti's son, Arab, expressed deep concern after emerging reports about his father being subjected to brutal assault at the hands of Israeli prison guards.

"What we have heard about my father’s condition is very distressing for us as a family, especially after he was assaulted by prison guards," Arab told Al Mayadeen.

He pointed out that since October 7 last year, Barghouti has been subjected to pressure, beaten, and forcefully dragged and has been transferred between four or five Israeli prisons.

"We are optimistic and fully trust the negotiators that our detainees, including my father, will be freed from prison," the leader's son said.

Marwan Barghouti played a key role in both the first and second Intifadas (uprisings) and was sentenced by an Israeli court in 2004. His release has been a primary objective for various Palestinian Resistance groups opposing the Israeli occupation.

Palestinian factions say Gaza ceasefire deal 'closer than ever'

The announcement came after Palestinian Resistance factions discussed Friday the course of the ongoing war on Gaza and the advancement of the indirect negotiations for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal, in addition to all the developments at the regional level.

This came during a meeting that brought together delegations of the leaderships of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Movement, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

In a joint statement issued after the talks, the factions asserted that they are keen to stop the Israeli aggression in light of international collusion that they described as "shameful", pointing out that the possibility of reaching an agreement "is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions."