Prominent Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Custody: Key Figures in Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations

Israel currently holds several high-profile Palestinian prisoners in its detention facilities. (File)

Jerusalem:

On Wednesday, a high-ranking Hamas official revealed that negotiators from both Hamas and Israel have exchanged lists detailing prisoners and hostages who would be freed if an agreement is reached during ongoing Gaza ceasefire discussions in Egypt.

Israel seeks to secure the release or recover the remains of the 48 hostages still captive following the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, with approximately 20 believed to be alive.

The proposed agreement stipulates that upon release of all hostages, Israel will free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans detained since the October 7 attacks, including all women and children. For each set of Israeli hostage remains returned, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

Below are some of the most significant Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel, though it remains uncertain if any will be included in a potential prisoner exchange:

Hamas Leaders:

Badallah al-Barghouti: Sentenced in 2004 to 67 life terms by an Israeli military court for his role in multiple suicide bombings during 2001-2002 that killed dozens of Israelis. Barghouti manufactured the explosive belts used in these attacks, including the Jerusalem Sbarro restaurant bombing that claimed 15 lives, according to the Israeli army. Born in Kuwait in 1972, this father of three relocated with his family to Beit Rima village near Ramallah in the West Bank in 1996.

Ibrahim Hamed: Apprehended in Ramallah in 2006 and sentenced to 54 life terms, Hamed is accused by Israel of orchestrating suicide attacks resulting in dozens of Israeli casualties. Before his capture, Hamed had evaded Israeli authorities for eight years while serving as the top West Bank commander of Hamas's military wing, the Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam Brigades. A political science graduate from Birzeit University near Ramallah, his wife was detained by Israel for eight months while he remained a fugitive.

Hassan Salama: Born in Gaza's Khan Younis refugee camp in 1971, Salama was convicted of organizing a series of suicide bombings across Israel in 1996 that killed dozens and wounded hundreds of Israelis. He received 48 life sentences. Salama claimed these attacks were retaliation for the 1996 assassination of Hamas bombmaker Yahya Ayyash. He was captured later that year in Hebron in the West Bank.

Non-Hamas Figures:

Marwan al-Barghouti - FATAH: A prominent member of the Fatah movement that governs the Palestinian Authority, Barghouti is considered a potential successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He gained prominence as a leader during both Palestinian Intifadas (uprisings) in the Israeli-occupied territories since 1987. Arrested in 2002, he was charged with orchestrating armed attacks and suicide bombings, resulting in five life sentences in 2004. According to Fatah officials, he established the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah's armed wing, on the instructions of former PA president Yasser Arafat.

Ahmed Saadat - PFLP: As leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Saadat was accused by Israel of ordering the 2001 assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi. Initially, he sought refuge at Arafat's Ramallah headquarters. Under a 2002 agreement with the Palestinian Authority, Saadat faced trial in a Palestinian court and was held in a Palestinian Authority jail under international supervision. In 2006, following the withdrawal of foreign monitors, Israeli forces seized Saadat and tried him in a military court on charges including involvement in an illegal organization, weapons dealing, and deadly attacks. The Justice Ministry determined there was insufficient evidence to charge him with Zeevi's assassination, and he was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in 2008.