The Israeli prime minister’s office unilaterally removed Marwan Barghouti’s name from the prisoner exchange list at the last minute, endangering the Gaza ceasefire deal’s implementation, a source close to the prominent Palestinian prisoner told Middle East Eye.
Barghouti, who is the most popular Palestinian political figure according to polls, was one of the most valuable names to potentially be traded for the 48 Israeli captives in Gaza.
A source close to Barghouti and his family told MEE that last night mediators including US envoy Steve Witkoff signed off on a prisoner list that included Barghouti.
For a moment I thought this time Bibi might be changing direction to play the peacemaker and hostage-returner. I wondee if Hamas would try to outflank him by releasing the hostages anyway so they can then use Israel’s uncooperation against them. That would significantly increase the pressure on Israel externally and internally by killing a main piece of the victim narrative.
There is not really any card Hamas can play. Israel is allowed to genocide all Palestinians with full support of the West.
And Israel will gladly kill all the captives in Palestinian custody with full support of the Israeli public.
When faced with the West which has absolutely zero morals the dilemma becomes very tough.