Barghouti’s Family Hears New Hopes for Release Following Trump’s Speech: Insights for the BBC

image source, TAL COHEN/AFP via Getty Images

Article Information

• • Author, Kasra Naji
  • Role, Special correspondent – BBC News Persian

• 4 hours ago

In the West Bank village of Kober, about 15 kilometers north of Ramallah, residents have already begun planning how to celebrate the release of Marwan Barghouti, who was imprisoned for a long time and whom they describe as “the Palestinian Nelson Mandela” and a symbol of unification among the Palestinians.

Outside the village mosque after Friday prayers, his cousin Muhammad Barghouti told the BBC that he was “80 percent confident” that Marwan would be released soon, and the young people around him agreed.

What raised morale in the village and among family members were two simultaneous things: efforts to bring peace to Gaza, and recent statements by US President Donald Trump.

In an interview with Time magazine published last week, Trump said he was considering asking Israel to release Barghouti so he could lead the administration in Gaza.

Barghouti’s name was at the top of a list of seven prominent prisoners whose release Hamas demanded in exchange for the release of 20 living Israeli hostages it was holding in Gaza, but Israel refused to include him in the deal.

A symbol of challenge and unity

image source, Scott Peterson/Getty Images

Comment on the photo, Muqbil Barghouti, Marwan Barghouti’s brother, says that Marwan is the only one capable of bringing Palestinians and Israelis together.

In the two-story family home, where Marwan Barghouti was born and lived until his first imprisonment in 1978, a large picture hanging on the wall reflects the prevailing mood.

The photo shows Marwan defiantly raising his handcuffed hands as he is taken to prison.

His brother Muqbil Barghouti, who sits drinking tea and smoking one cigarette after another, says that Marwan is the only one capable of bringing Palestinians and Israelis together: “He can unite the Palestinians like no one else has been able to do.”

Muqbil works for the Palestinian Authority, participated in the Prisoners’ Committee, and was a political activist in his village.

According to repeated polls, Marwan, 66 years old, is considered the most popular Palestinian politician by a wide margin.

He began his political activity at the age of fifteen within the Fatah movement, which was led at the time by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, where he participated in mobilizing support for the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution. He later emerged as one of the leaders of the Second Intifada at the turn of the millennium, and spent more than two decades in Israeli prisons.

Barghouti was arrested in 2002 during the Israeli Operation Defensive Shield, when Israel accused him of establishing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a charge Marwan denied.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades carried out a series of bloody attacks that resulted in the killing of Israeli soldiers, settlers and civilians.

In 2004, an Israeli court sentenced him to five life terms in addition to 40 years in prison, after convicting him of his role in those attacks.

His wife, Palestinian lawyer Fadwa Barghouti, told the BBC last year that her husband “was not accused because he committed those acts with his own hands, but because he was a leader,” adding that Marwan denied during the investigation the charge of “establishing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.”

Barghouti was tried and his name became familiar in every household, and he is widely viewed as the most prominent candidate to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as head of the Palestinian Authority.

Barghouti announced that he supports peace with Israel and a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders.

Although many in Israel oppose the idea of ​​releasing him because he was convicted of five murders and “had blood on his hands,” others believe that his release could be a step toward achieving a Palestinian consensus, uniting the competing factions, and thus providing the best chance for peace.

A family activity to defend

Comment on the photo, Arab Barghouti says that his father is able to strongly influence the Palestinian political scene by uniting its divided leadership.

His son, Arab Barghouti, says that his father is a politician, not a military man, who could be involved in killing Israelis. Arab, who is in his thirties, is a tactful and influential advocate for his father’s cause.

In a Ramallah café, he told me in perfect English that the family had heard that Marwan was beaten unconscious in prison on September 14 by eight guards.

When asked about the incident, the Israel Prison Service told the BBC earlier this month: “These are false allegations. The Israel Prison Service works according to the law, while ensuring the safety and health of all prisoners.”

This came at the same time that rumors were spreading about the possibility of Barghouti being released as part of a truce deal in Gaza that included exchanging Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages.

Arab said: “There are ministers from the far right in Israel who clearly do not want peace, and are openly calling for the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”

He added: “I think they see my father as a political threat. They never viewed him as a security threat, because he was never a soldier or a general or anything like that. He was always a politician, a member of the Legislative Council, a member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement (which dominates the Palestinian Authority), and so on.”

Message to Washington

image source, ABBAS MOMANI/AFP via Getty Images

Comment on the photo, Fadwa Barghouti appeals to President Trump to view her husband as a potential partner in achieving regional peace.

Fadwa Barghouti sent a letter to President Trump in which she said that her husband could help him achieve his stated goal of bringing peace to the region.

“Mr. President, a true partner awaits you who can help realize the shared dream of a just and lasting peace in the region,” she said in a statement to Time magazine last week.

She added: “For the freedom of the Palestinian people and the peace of all future generations, help release Marwan Barghouti.”

Arab believes that his father is able to contribute significantly to unifying the divided Palestinian political arena.

He said: “Palestinian unity can contribute a lot to the stability of the region. My father believes in political solutions, and was one of the most prominent advocates of coexistence and the peace process in the 1990s.”

In the West Bank, there is a sense of optimism not seen in the occupied territories for a long time.

The truce in Gaza is still holding despite all the challenges, and the renewed American efforts to bring peace to Gaza and the broader region have ignited a glimmer of hope in a place where hope was long absent.

Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the West Bank has witnessed a hidden and brutal war, but it has been overshadowed by the conflict in Gaza.

For peace between Israelis and Palestinians to have a real chance of succeeding, both sides need visionary leaders.

Even if Marwan Barghouti is released to help bring peace to Gaza, the region still needs an Israeli leader with a vision of peaceful coexistence.

Arab Barghouti remains optimistic: “I think this could be the beginning of a new way of thinking about the region and the Palestinian issue. I really hope that we will reach the day when we are free, independent, live in dignity, and our children can live in peace.”

What implications could Trump’s characterization of Marwan Barghouti as a “respected figure” have on the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

The Context of Trump’s Remarks & Marwan Barghouti

Donald Trump’s recent speech, delivered on October 29th, 2025, included unexpected commentary regarding Palestinian prisoners held in israeli jails. While the speech largely focused on broader Middle East peace negotiations, a specific segment addressed the case of Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian leader convicted of multiple counts of murder. The remarks sparked immediate reaction, particularly from barghouti’s family, who have expressed a renewed sense of hope for his potential release. This article, geared towards BBC audiences, delves into the details of Trump’s statement, the family’s response, and the complex political landscape surrounding Barghouti’s imprisonment. Key search terms include: Marwan Barghouti release, Trump Middle East peace plan, Palestinian prisoners Israel, Barghouti family statement, Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Decoding Trump’s Statement: what Was said?

Trump’s comments were brief but notable. He stated that he had “discussed the possibility of releasing some long-term Palestinian prisoners as a gesture of goodwill” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He specifically mentioned Barghouti, describing him as a “respected figure” among Palestinians, a characterization that drew criticism from some Israeli officials and victims’ families.

Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

* Gesture of Goodwill: trump framed potential prisoner releases as a confidence-building measure to facilitate ongoing peace talks.

* Direct Discussion with Netanyahu: The statement indicated a direct conversation with the israeli Prime Minister, suggesting a level of seriousness.

* barghouti’s Designation: Referring to Barghouti as “respected” signaled a potential shift in the US outlook on the palestinian leader.

* No Concrete Commitments: Crucially, Trump did not announce any firm agreements or timelines for release.

Related searches: Trump Israel policy, US peace negotiations Palestine, Prisoner swap negotiations.

The Barghouti Family’s Reaction: A Wave of Optimism

The Barghouti family, who have tirelessly campaigned for Marwan’s release for nearly two decades, reacted with cautious optimism. In a statement released shortly after Trump’s speech, the family expressed gratitude for the US President’s acknowledgement of Barghouti’s status and his willingness to consider his release.

Key takeaways from the family statement:

1. Renewed Hope: The family emphasized that Trump’s words offered a glimmer of hope after years of disappointment.
2. Call for Action: Thay urged both the US and Israeli governments to translate the discussion into concrete action.
3. Barghouti as a Peacemaker: The statement reiterated the family’s belief that barghouti could play a constructive role in future peace negotiations.
4. Emphasis on Humanitarian Grounds: The family highlighted Barghouti’s deteriorating health while in prison, appealing for his release on humanitarian grounds.

The Political Obstacles: Why Barghouti’s Release is Complex

Despite the renewed hope, significant obstacles remain to Barghouti’s release.

* Israeli opposition: Many within the Israeli government, particularly those on the right wing, strongly oppose Barghouti’s release, citing his conviction for involvement in multiple terrorist attacks. Victims’ families have also voiced vehement opposition.

* Legal Hurdles: Even if a political agreement is reached, legal challenges could delay or prevent Barghouti’s release.

* Palestinian Divisions: Internal divisions within the Palestinian political landscape could complicate the process.Hamas, for example, may view Barghouti’s release as a concession that undermines their own position.

* US Domestic Politics: Shifting US political priorities could also impact the likelihood of barghouti’s release.

Relevant keywords: Israeli security concerns, Palestinian political factions, International law and prisoners, Prisoner release conditions.

Barghouti’s Background: From Activist to Convicted Leader

Marwan barghouti, born in 1956, has been a prominent figure in Palestinian politics for decades. He was a key leader in the Second Intifada and a founding member of Fatah’s armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ brigade.In 2004, he was captured by Israeli forces and later convicted of five counts of murder and multiple attempted murder charges. He has consistently maintained his innocence,claiming he was targeted for his political activities. His imprisonment has made him a symbol of Palestinian resistance and a popular figure among Palestinians.

The Role of international Mediation: Beyond the US

While the US has historically played a central role in mediating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, other international actors are also involved. The European Union, the United Nations, and individual European countries have all called for a just and lasting resolution to the conflict, including the release of Palestinian prisoners. The potential for a broader international effort to facilitate Barghouti’s release should not be discounted.

Related searches: EU Middle East policy, UN resolutions on Palestinian prisoners, International pressure on Israel.

Potential Scenarios: What Could Happen Next?

Several scenarios could unfold in the coming weeks and months:

* Continued Negotiations: The US could continue to pressure Israel to release Barghouti as part of a broader peace deal.