A powerful new international campaign is demanding the immediate release of Marwan Barghouti, the most popular Palestinian leader and the figure many see as key to future Palestinian unity and peace.
The Launch of the “Free Marwan” Campaign
An international campaign to secure the release of imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has rapidly gained traction this weekend, placing his freedom at the heart of ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations. Launched by Barghouti’s family in the occupied West Bank and supported by civil society groups in the UK and beyond, the “Free Marwan” initiative officially began on November 28–29, coinciding with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Street art has become the campaign’s signature: large “Free Marwan” murals coordinated by London artist and curator Calum Hall now cover walls across the British capital. In Barghouti’s home village of Kobar near Ramallah, a giant artwork on Israel’s separation wall declares “See You Soon.” Simultaneous solidarity events took place in Cape Town, Derry, Rome, and several other cities, with South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters among the most prominent voices.
A major open letter signed by global political figures, artists, and former anti-apartheid leaders is expected next week, urging mediators to prioritise Barghouti’s release in any new prisoner exchange.
Who is Marwan Barghouti?
At 66, Marwan Barghouti remains the most popular Palestinian political figure across both Gaza and the West Bank, consistently topping opinion polls. A co-founder of Fatah’s youth wing, he joined the movement at age 15, led student activism during the First Intifada, and later championed the 1990s Oslo Accords while advocating a two-state solution.
Arrested by Israeli forces in Ramallah in 2002, he was convicted in 2004 on charges related to attacks during the Second Intifada and sentenced to five life terms plus 40 years. The Inter-Parliamentary Union and numerous international observers have long described the trial as deeply flawed, citing coerced testimonies and lack of direct evidence.
Despite 23 years behind bars, Barghouti is widely viewed as the only leader capable of uniting Fatah, Hamas, and other factions — earning him frequent comparisons to Nelson Mandela.
Harsh Prison Conditions and Political Obstacles
Barghouti has faced repeated solitary confinement, severe restrictions on family and lawyer visits (only five lawyer meetings in two years), and documented physical assaults, including broken ribs from a beating by guards earlier this year. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly mocked and threatened him on video. A new bill under consideration in the Knesset could retroactively impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of attacks on settlers — a measure that would directly target Barghouti.
Israel rejected his inclusion in the large-scale prisoner swap following the October 2023 ceasefire, despite pressure from Hamas and several Gulf states. Many analysts believe Israel refuses to free him precisely because of his unifying potential. Some reports also indicate that senior figures within the Palestinian Authority quietly oppose his release, viewing him as a threat to the current Ramallah leadership.
With more than 9,000 Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons, campaigners insist Barghouti’s case symbolises the broader struggle. From London’s streets to the hills of the West Bank, one message echoes clearly: no lasting peace or Palestinian unity is possible while the man many call their “Nelson Mandela” remains behind bars.
