The family of imprisoned Fatah terrorist Marwan Barghouti has written to US President Donald Trump to demand his release from an Israeli prison, his family told BBC Persian on Friday.
“Mr. President, a true partner awaits you. Someone who can help realize our shared dream of a just and lasting peace in the region. Help free Marwan Barghouti for the freedom of the Palestinian people and peace for future generations," the family wrote.
Speaking to BBC Persian in the West Bank village of Kabar, Barghouti’s cousin said he was “80% certain” that he would soon be released, despite Israel’s refusals to list him as one of the prisoners released in exchange for the hostages who were held by Hamas for over two years.
"No one can unite Palestinians like him," Barghouti’s brother Moqbel, who works on a board representing the families of Palestinian prisoners, said.
While Barghouti is held for his role in founding the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, and for the deadly attacks the group went on to commit, his son maintained that Barghouti is innocent.
Speaking to the Persian site in Ramallah, Arab Barghouti repeated the claim that his father was assaulted by guards in prison, a claim the Israel Prison Service denied.
Bargouthi's family says he can unite Palestinians
Al Araby TV cited a Palestinian source reporting last month that Barghouti was “beaten and assaulted” as he was being transferred from Ramon Prison in the South to Megiddo Prison north of Jenin.
According to the news channel, Barghouti had four broken ribs as a result of the alleged beating, which caused him to lose consciousness temporarily.
"There are extremist ministers in Israel who are clearly against peace and who openly call for the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people," said Arab Barghouti.
"I think they see my father as a political threat. They never considered him a security threat, because he was never a soldier or a general. He was always a politician, a member of parliament, and a member of the Fatah Central Committee."
"Palestinian unity can be a great help to regional stability. My father believes in political solutions and supported coexistence and the peace process in the 1990s,” he continued. "I think this could be the beginning of a new way of thinking about the region and the Palestinian cause. I really hope that one day we will be free and independent, live with dignity, and our children will live in peace."
Who is Fatah terror leader Marwan Barghouti?
Born in the West Bank, Barghouti is a political and terrorist leader in Fatah who played a key role in the Second Intifada.
In April 2002, he was arrested in Ramallah during Operation Defensive Shield and was later convicted in an Israeli civilian court of five counts of murder and other offenses. Barghouti is currently serving five life sentences on top of added-on years.
Between April and May 2017, while leading a large prisoner hunger strike, the Israel Prison Service released footage that it said showed Barghouti secretly eating in his cell, a clip his supporters said was fabricated.
Barghouti remains one of the most popular Palestinian leaders, according to multiple surveys, and he has frequently been mentioned in negotiations as a top Hamas demand. He was included in a list of high-profile prisoners Hamas demanded Israel release as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump.
Jerusalem Post Staff and Liran Haroni contributed to this report.