Hamas is urging Israel to include several high-profile Palestinian detainees in the list of prisoners set to be released as part of the Gaza Peace Deal. The move comes as both sides prepare for a phased ceasefire and the return of hostages from Gaza, marking one of the most significant developments in the ongoing conflict. The Israeli justice ministry recently published the names of 250 prisoners who will be freed under the current peace framework. However, seven prominent Palestinians, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, were notably excluded from the list. Both men are serving lengthy prison terms for their alleged roles in separate deadly attacks inside Israel. Among Palestinians, they are widely regarded as enduring symbols of resistance and national struggle.
As part of the first phase of the Gaza Peace Deal, twenty Israeli hostages are expected to be released before Monday afternoon, local time. The plan, proposed and brokered through international mediation, particularly by US President Donald Trump’s administration, is designed to bring an end to the two-year conflict in Gaza. A senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told the BBC that US envoy Steve Witkoff pledged to raise the issue of the excluded prisoners with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite that, Israeli officials have made it clear that they will not include Barghouti, Saadat, or other prominent figures in the initial release. It remains uncertain whether this stance could delay the planned exchange or affect the overall timeline of the Gaza Peace Deal.
Hamas Urges Israel to Release Prominent Prisoners Under Gaza Peace Deal
In addition to the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, Israel has agreed to free approximately 1,700 detainees from Gaza. The deal also includes the repatriation of the bodies of hostages who have died in captivity. Reports suggest that at least 26 hostages are confirmed dead, while the fate of two others remains unknown. Hamas had submitted a comprehensive list of prisoners it wants freed, including Barghouti, a senior Fatah figure, and Saadat, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Barghouti, convicted in 2004 and sentenced to multiple life terms, remains one of the most popular political figures among Palestinians. Polls indicate he would easily win a presidential election against both current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leaders. Saadat was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2008 for allegedly leading an outlawed group and involvement in the killing of an Israeli minister in 2001.
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Among those expected to be released under the Gaza Peace Deal is Iyad Abu al-Rub, a commander with Islamic Jihad, convicted of organizing suicide bombings that killed 13 Israelis in the early 2000s. According to Israeli authorities, he will either be returned to Gaza or deported abroad. Sources say Hamas is also pressing for the release of Palestinians who were freed years earlier as part of the Gilad Shalit exchange but were rearrested after October 7. Hamas contends that those individuals should not be included within the current count of 250, since their prior release was part of a separate agreement. Meanwhile, hospitals across Israel are preparing for the safe return of hostages, as families wait anxiously for what could be the most significant step toward lasting peace under the Gaza Peace Deal.
