Former world leaders urge Israel to release Marwan Barghouti

The Elders, a group of former world leaders and officials, have called for the immediate release of Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison. 

Barghouti - the most high-profile Palestinian prisoner - has been detained by Israel since 2002, and is currently serving five life sentences. 

The Elders group, first set up by Nelson Mandela in 2007, said Barghouti’s release would be an important step towards reviving a two-state solution. 

“Barghouti has been a long-term advocate for a two-state solution by peaceful means, and is consistently the most popular Palestinian leader in opinion polls,” the group wrote on Wednesday. 

The group’s members include Juan Manuel Santos, the former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Laureate; Helen Clark, the former New Zealand prime minister; Mary Robinson, the former Irish president and ex-United Nations commissioner for human rights; and former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.

Former presidents of Mongolia, Liberia, and Mexico are also in the group, as is Denis Mukwege, the Congolese Nobel Peace Laureate.

“We condemn the ill-treatment, including torture, of Marwan Barghouti and other Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are arbitrarily detained. Israeli authorities must abide by their responsibilities under international law,” the ex-leaders and officials said. 

Barghouti is a former senior leader of Fatah and was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1996.

'Political path' to resolving the conflict

When Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of Fatah, carried out several attacks during the Second Intifada in early 2002, Israel arrested Barghouti and accused him of organising them.

Israel convicted him in 2004 of several counts of murder - charges he has long denied.

He offered no defence in his trial, refusing to recognise Israeli jurisdiction over Palestinians in the West Bank.  

“Barghouti was convicted in 2004 in a trial that the Inter-Parliamentary Union found contained numerous breaches of international law and was not fair,” the Elders said.

“Barghouti has supported the right of Palestinians to resist Israel’s illegal occupation, but condemned attacks on civilians.”

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The 66-year-old is seen as a unifying figure, and opinion polls suggest he would be a shoo-in for the Palestinian presidency if elections were held and he were able to run for office.

“Only the Palestinian people have the right to choose their own leadership,” the Elders wrote, welcoming a commitment by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, to hold free and fair elections over the next 12 months. 

The former leaders said Barghouti had a vital role to play in that. 

“Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the founding Chair of The Elders, first called for his release in 2013,” they said. “Freeing him now would send a signal that Israel is serious about pursuing a peaceful, political path to resolve the conflict.”

Some Israeli figures, including a former leader of the Shin Bet security agency, have called for his release. 

Barghouti's access to family and legal visits has been severely restricted, with senior Palestinian figures accusing Israeli authorities of subjecting Barghouti to "isolation, torture and attempts to coerce, humiliate and beat him, putting his life in danger".  

In August 2025, a 13-second clip emerged of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir threatening Barghouti in his cell. It was the first public footage of Barghouti in nearly a decade.

Sources close to Barghouti told Middle East Eye that the Israeli prime minister’s office unilaterally removed his name from a prisoner exchange list at the last minute during Gaza ceasefire negotiations earlier this month. 

Appeals to Trump

Barghouti’s wife recently appealed to US President Donald Trump to secure her husband's release from prison in Israel.

"Mr President, a genuine partner awaits you - one who can help fulfil the dream we share of just and lasting peace in the region. For the sake of freedom for the Palestinian people and peace for all future generations, help release Marwan Barghouti," Fadwa Barghouti, who is a lawyer, said in a statement. 

Last week, Trump said he would soon make a decision as to whether he push Israel to free Barghouti. 

“President Trump and other leaders with influence should do all they can to secure Barghouti’s release,” the Elders said.

“They should seize this moment to increase the chances of lasting peace, security and accountability in the region.”