Celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch and Annie Ernaux call for Marwan Barghouti release

A diverse group of western celebrities, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Delia Smith, Ian McKellen and Annie Ernaux, have called on Israel to release jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti.

Barghouti, who is often referred to as the Palestinian Mandela, has been imprisoned by Israel since 2002, and is currently serving five life sentences. 

Repeated polling has shown the former leader of Fatah's paramilitary Al-Aqsa Brigades is the most popular Palestinian politician in the occupied territories and a potential future president.

The celebrities are signatories to a letter calling on the international community to pressure Israel to release Barghouti, citing the "violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights" he has experienced while in prison.

More than 200 people from different industries have currently signed the letter.

Read more: Celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch and Annie Ernaux call for Marwan Barghouti release