More than 200 celebrities, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Fry and Sir Ian McKellen, have signed a new open letter demanding Israel release convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti.
The letter, circulated by the “Free Marwan” campaign, portrays Barghouti as a “persecuted political leader” who has suffered “violent mistreatment” in Israeli custody.
“This is a global campaign that needs everyone’s energy, creativity and activism to succeed,” the letter reads. “We express our grave concern at the continuing imprisonment of Marwan Barghouti, his violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights whilst imprisoned.”
Signed by other household names such as Javier Bardem, Olivia Colman and Mark Ruffalo, it also urges the United Nations and governments of the world to “immediately” intervene on his behalf.
Born near Ramallah in 1959, Barghouti rose to prominence during the first intifada in the late 1980s. Initially supporting the peace process under the Oslo Accords, he turned to terrorism following the collapse of the Camp David Summit in 2000. His position in the Palestinian Legislative Council provided him the perfect political cover to do so.
When the Second Intifada erupted, Barghouti’s mask of moderation dropped. Leading Fatah’s Tanzim force, he quickly assumed a commanding role in orchestrating the terror wave. Israel linked him to lethal attacks including the killing of monk Georgios Tsibouktzakis, a Tel Aviv restaurant shooting and multiple civilian car bombings. He also coordinated operations between Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and other terror groups.
Israel’s 2002 seizure of Barghouti in Ramallah exposed the breadth of the operation he commanded. His trial introduced written attack directives, financial logs funding terror cells and testimony from arrested terrorists tying him to the violence. Barghouti rejected the court’s legitimacy and offered no defense. In 2004, he was convicted for his role in attacks that left five Israelis dead and received five life sentences and an additional 40 years.
From behind bars, Barghouti has continued to wield influence, issuing manifestos urging “resistance” against Israel, directing prisoner uprisings and cultivating his image as a would-be successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
In every ceasefire negotiation, Hamas has put Barghouti first on its list of terrorists to be freed in exchange for the Oct. 7 hostages. Israel has insisted throughout that he will “not be freed under any circumstance.” Last month, the Knesset advanced a high-profile bill that would introduce the death penalty for terrorists convicted of murdering Israeli civilians.
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