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Palestine: Efforts to Release Marwan Barghouti

Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti attends a deliberation at Jerusalem Magistrate's court (file photo: Reuters)
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti attends a deliberation at Jerusalem Magistrate's court (file photo: Reuters)
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Palestine: Efforts to Release Marwan Barghouti

Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti attends a deliberation at Jerusalem Magistrate's court (file photo: Reuters)
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti attends a deliberation at Jerusalem Magistrate's court (file photo: Reuters)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with several international and regional parties have increased efforts to release Fatah official Marwan Barghouti from an Israeli jail, an informed Palestinian source said.

But the source said there hasn’t been any breakthrough yet.

The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Abbas is pressing to ensure his release, adding that Egypt is also exerting efforts.

Egypt believes his release could contribute to ending inter-Palestinian division, according to the source.

Fatah official Hatem Abdel Qader said Egypt strongly encourages the release of Barghouti and his inclusion in any future swap deal. He added that former Egyptian intelligence official Omar Suleiman made efforts to release the jailed Palestinian official in the previous deal.

Barghouti is a member of Fatah’s Central Committee and has been held in Israeli prisons since April 14, 2002 on charges of leading al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah’s military arm.

Israel has sentenced Barghouti to five years in prison in addition to another 40-year sentence.

During the movement’s seventh congress, Barghouti received the highest votes; 930 out of about 1,100 votes.

Several Fatah officials nominated Barghouti to become Abbas’ deputy even while in prison, but the Palestinian president appointed Mahmoud al-Aloul.

Many of his supporters were angered that Barghouti was not appointed because they believed that putting him in the post would increase pressure for his release.

Well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Marwan's name was actually floated during discussions on choosing a vice-president in the Central Committee meetings, but the members strongly objected for several reasons, including the move being impractical because he is detained.

Abbas and Fatah officials recently met Fadwa Barghouti, Marwan’s wife. She is also a member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah Movement and received the highest votes during the council’s elections.

A Fatah official told Asharq Al-Awsat the movement will remain united despite disagreements, adding that there might not be a named successor to Abbas, but there is no urgent need to resolve this issue.

He stated how the situation was far more complicated when choosing a successor to late President Yasser Arafat. However, Fatah later united and agreed on a candidate.

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Kurdish Fighters Leave Northern City in Syria as Part of Deal with Central Government

A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
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Kurdish Fighters Leave Northern City in Syria as Part of Deal with Central Government

A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)

Scores of US-backed Kurdish fighters left two neighborhoods in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo Friday as part of a deal with the central government in Damascus, which is expanding its authority in the country.

The fighters left the predominantly Kurdish northern neighborhoods of Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh, which had been under the control of Kurdish fighters in Aleppo over the past decade.

The deal is a boost to an agreement reached last month between Syria’s interim government and the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country’s northeast. The deal could eventually lead to the merger of the main US-backed force in Syria into the Syrian army.

The withdrawal of fighters from the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) came a day after dozens of prisoners from both sides were freed in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported that government forces were deployed along the road that SDF fighters will use to move between Aleppo and areas east of the Euphrates River, where the Kurdish-led force controls nearly a quarter of Syria.

Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh had been under SDF control since 2015 and remained so even when forces of ousted President Bashar al-Assad captured Aleppo in late 2016. The two neighborhoods remained under SDF control when forces loyal to current interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa captured the city in November, and days later captured the capital, Damascus, removing Assad from power.

After being marginalized for decades under the rule of the Assad family rule, the deal signed last month promises Syria’s Kurds “constitutional rights,” including using and teaching their language, which were banned for decades.

Hundreds of thousands of Kurds, who were displaced during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, will return to their homes. Thousands of Kurds living in Syria who have been deprived of nationality for decades under Assad will be given the right of citizenship, according to the agreement.

Kurds made up 10% of the country’s prewar population of 23 million. Kurdish leaders say they don’t want full autonomy with their own government and parliament. They want decentralization and room to run their day-to day-affairs.