Fadwa Barghouti, the wife of the imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, has urged Donald Trump to advocate for her husband’s release, following the U.S. President’s indication that he would “make a decision” on the matter.
“Mr. President, a genuine partner is waiting for you—one capable of helping to realize our shared vision of a just and enduring peace in the region,” Fadwa Barghouti stated in a message to TIME. “For the sake of freedom for the Palestinian people and peace for all future generations, please assist in the release of Marwan Barghouti.”
Trump made this comment in an when questioned about his potential support for freeing Barghouti, who has consistently been viewed by Palestinians and certain diplomatic figures as a prospective unifying leader. “I am literally confronting that question approximately 15 minutes before your call. That was the question. That was my question of the day. So I will be making a decision,” he stated.
Marwan Barghouti, 66, has been incarcerated by Israel since 2002 and was handed five life sentences in 2004 for his alleged involvement in attacks during the Second Intifada—the Palestinian armed uprising that succeeded the collapse of the 1993 Oslo Accords. He was found guilty of directing shooting and bombing assaults that resulted in five deaths, though he disavowed participation and declined to present a defense, asserting that he did not recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli court. Once a prominent participant in the Oslo peace process, Barghouti was known for fostering connections with high-ranking Israeli officials.
Despite being a senior member of Fatah—the secular nationalist party that holds sway over the Palestinian Authority—Barghouti has maintained positive relations with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that governs Gaza. His name was reportedly high on the roster of prisoners Hamas sought to include in hostage-exchange negotiations following its October 7, 2023, terror attack, which claimed over 1,200 lives in Israel and initiated the conflict that has since resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Barghouti remains in prison, where he consistently for president of the Palestinian Authority, the provisional governing body established under the Oslo Accords. “They currently lack a leader,” Trump. “At least a discernible leader.”
Trump, who has been credited for orchestrating the cease-fire that secured the liberation of Israeli hostages, now faces a more intricate challenge: devising a post-war framework for governing Gaza’s 2 million inhabitants. His peace initiative, supported by several Arab governments, marks a critical juncture for the broader political question of Palestinian aspirations for their own nation in Gaza and the West Bank, where an additional 3 million Palestinians reside.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unequivocally opposes the “two-state solution.” Nevertheless, Trump’s statement concerning Barghouti’s destiny raised hopes that the President—who described strongly influencing the Israeli premier to accept the cease-fire—might intervene once more.
Among those encouraging the President to undertake that measure is Ronald Lauder, the billionaire head of the World Jewish Congress and a long-time Trump associate, who has advocated for Barghouti’s release.
“I believe that the fact he is contemplating it is a significant step in the appropriate direction,” Lauder told TIME. “A two-state solution is only feasible if an effective leader is present, and Marwan Barghouti will be the right leader for it. It does not necessarily need to occur within one or two years—it could take three, four, or five years, whatever duration is required. However, once peace begins between Israel and the Palestinian people, the prospect of a peaceful Middle East emerges.”
When questioned about why Israel’s government continues to hold Barghouti incarcerated, Lauder responded, “because they are aware he would make a beneficial state. The individuals they have set free are significantly more detrimental than him.” TIME has contacted the Israeli government for comment.
Barghouti’s family alleges that he has been physically assaulted by guards within Israel’s prisons, which are of Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right member of Netanyahu’s coalition. The Israeli Prison Service deemed the assault allegation false. In August, Ben-Gvir publicized a of himself verbally assailing a visibly frail Barghouti in his cell.
“He represents a unifying personality,” Barghouti’s son, Arab, PBS this week. “He possesses the ability to unite the Palestinian populace across various factions, encompassing secular individuals, extremists, whatever designation you prefer, and guide them towards a sensible political outlook that gains acceptance from the international community.”
