Hamas insists Marwan Barghouti be part of any prisoner swap with Israel

Hamas hopes its support for Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who retains wide popularity, will pay political dividends.
portrait of Barghouti in Ramallah
A staff member of a West Bank office in support of Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti walks near his portrait in Ramallah on March 3, 2021. Barghouti has been in Israeli custody for nearly two decades after being convicted in multiple killings during the second intifada. - ABBAS MOMANI/AFP via Getty Images
Ahmad Melhem.jpg
Ahmad Melhem
@ahmadme44502893

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Hamas movement insists on giving imprisoned Fatah Central Committee member Marwan Barghouti priority in any potential prisoner swap deal with Israel.

As soon as the latest war on the Gaza Strip ended May 21, Egypt launched indirect talks between Hamas and Israel to advance a long-term truce between the two parties and discuss mechanisms for the reconstruction of Gaza and a prisoner swap deal.

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