Arab-Israeli Conflict

Hamas demands release of intifada mastermind in exchange for hostages

Hamas is also demanding the release of Ahmad Sadat, imprisoned for the murder of Minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001. 

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

As negotiations for a hostage deal resume, Hamas is demanding the release of 2nd Intifada mastermind Marwan Barghouti and other terrorist murderers in exchange for Israeli captives, Sky News Arabic reported on Friday.

Barghouti is currently serving several life sentences for murdering Israelis and had planned the Second Intifada between 2000 and 2005 that claimed the lives of thousands of Israelis.

Hamas’ demand to release Barghouti is viewed by most Israeli as impossible to fulfill.

In addition, Hamas is also demanding the release of Ahmad Sadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), who played a significant role in the 2001 murder of Minister Rehavam Zeevi, the most senior Israeli official to be killed in a terror attack.

Sadat began serving a 30-year sentence in 2008 and is expected to be 85 on his release.

Yahya Sinwar, who was also a prisoner in Israel released in exchange for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, is the new political head of Hamas after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and is reportedly demanding the release of these and other terrorists who have murdered Israelis.

Official sources have noted, “Right now, there is no breakthrough in the negotiations for a deal, and at any rate Hamas has not yet responded to the proposal. The Prime Minister has agreed to the request by the US and negotiators to send a delegation to Cairo on August 15.”

According to a March poll of Arabs in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria, Marwan Barghouti would win Palestinian elections.

Dr. Khalil Shikaki, director of Ramallah’s Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), published a survey showing that 60 percent of Palestinians would elect Barghouti.

The poll, which was taken before the assassination of Haniyeh, found that Barghouti would be the winner if he were running against Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Share
Published by
Miriam Metzinger
Tags: Ceasefire Hamas hostage deal Marwan Barghouti

Recent Posts

  • Jewish Diaspora & Antisemitism

Antisemitic conspiracy theories blaming Jews for 9/11 gaining traction on social media

25 years after the attacks, conspiracy theories blaming Jews for 9/11 net tens of millions…

39 minutes ago
  • World News

Tucker Carlson accuses Israel of ‘working to exterminate’ all Gazans, says US committed ‘war crimes’ against Nazi Germany

Far-right pundit slams reported plans of major US aerial munitions sale to Israel, while accusing…

1 hour ago
  • Videos

WATCH: How radical extremists use democratic laws against America

Ben Shapiro breaks down the case of Mahmoud Khalil, showing how anti-American figures exploit the…

3 hours ago
  • Source-WIN

Vance says new phase of Iran war to begin ‘in a couple of months’

America's conflict with Iran will enter 'much different phase' in a matter of months, says…

3 hours ago
  • Arab-Israeli Conflict

3 years after Oct. 7, Israel has overhauled the defense of Gaza border communities

The IDF has developed the Netz app, a system designed to provide real-time situational awareness…

3 hours ago
  • World News

UK, US, Netherlands issue advisory on Iran-linked spyware

The NCSC, alongside the FBI and the Netherlands’ AIVD intelligence service, said Iran 'almost certainly'…

3 hours ago