Trump Weighs Barghouti Release Amid Israeli Opposition

President Trump said he is “making a decision” on whether to urge Israel to free imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti and has discussed the possibility with White House aides amid efforts to address Gaza’s postwar leadership void. Barghouti, 66, has been jailed since 2002 and was sentenced in 2004 to multiple life terms for attacks during the Second Intifada—convictions he denies—but remains widely viewed by Palestinians and some diplomats as a popular, potentially unifying leader and possible successor to Mahmoud Abbas. His name was reportedly sought by Hamas in hostage-exchange talks, but he was not included in the recent multi-phase ceasefire prisoner releases that freed roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for remaining Israeli hostages. Fadwa Barghouti, his wife, publicly appealed to Trump to help secure his release as a step toward “freedom for the Palestinian people and peace,” heightening pressure on the U.S. decision. Reports of alleged mistreatment in prison, including beatings and threats from Israeli officials, add to the diplomatic sensitivity and complexity of any U.S. push for his release.