From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Hamas said to promise families of terror chiefs Barghouti, Saadat they’ll be freed in 2nd phase
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Hamas has promised the families of prominent terror convicts Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat that they will be released from Israeli prison in the second stage of the ongoing ceasefire and hostage deal, the Kan public broadcaster reports, citing an unnamed Palestinian source involved in the negotiations.
Both prisoners are senior terror chiefs and are considered icons by many Palestinians.
Barghouti, 64, is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for his part in planning three terror attacks that killed five Israelis during the Second Intifada.
Saadat, 72, the leader of the Marxist-Leninist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was sentenced in 2008 to 30 years behind bars for masterminding the 2001 assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi.
Israel has previously said Barghouti won’t be freed in a deal.
The Palestinian source is cited as saying Hamas is preparing a strategic plan to take over the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority after the latter’s elderly leader Mahmoud Abbas is no longer in office.
The popular Barghouti is seen as a leading candidate to win potential Palestinian national elections, and if Hamas secures his release, Barghouti will be owing the terror group his life and freedom, the report says.
The Times of Israel Community.