The Guardian view on Marwan Barghouti: Palestinians need a political future as well as aid and reconstruction | Editorial

A Two-State Solution is Elusive as Palestinians Seek a Political Horizon Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

The fragile ceasefire in Gaza has brought some respite from the bloodshed, but the underlying issues of displacement, poverty, and lack of access to basic supplies persist. The Israeli military's continued operations have displaced hundreds of families, while aid has increased but Israel remains unwilling to lift its blockade. Palestinians are not just crying out for humanitarian relief and reconstruction; they are also yearning for a political future that acknowledges their rights.

At the heart of this crisis is Marwan Barghouti, a charismatic 66-year-old Palestinian leader who has spent over two decades in an Israeli prison. Despite being convicted of murder, Barghouti has emerged as a unifying figure, uniting factions and winning respect within Hamas ranks. His release has become a rallying cry for Palestinians, with international figures such as Paul Simon, Delia Smith, and Margaret Atwood backing the campaign.

The personal fate of Barghouti is inextricably linked to that of the Palestinian people. His conviction and imprisonment have won him widespread support, and his ability to galvanize Palestinian politics has made him a symbol of hope for statehood and lasting peace. The international community's recognition of Palestinian nationhood has created momentum for a two-state solution, which Barghouti has long supported.

However, the Israeli government remains resolute in its opposition to a Palestinian state. While some may see Barghouti as a terrorist, others view him as a symbol of national dignity and resistance. The fact that Israel is willing to release convicted murderers but not Barghouti highlights the disconnect between its official stance on terrorism and its willingness to engage with Palestinian leaders.

The conditions for Palestinian prisoners have worsened dramatically since 2023, with reports of severe beatings and intimidation by Israeli security forces. The government's proposed draft law introducing a mandatory death penalty for terrorism is a stark reminder of the regime's determination to crush dissent. In this context, Barghouti's release is not only a humanitarian imperative but also a necessary step towards creating a political horizon that acknowledges Palestinian rights.

As the US president considers raising the issue of Barghouti's release, it is essential for the international community to recognize the urgency of the situation. The fate of Palestinians is inextricably linked to their ability to exercise self-determination and statehood. By supporting Barghouti's release, the world can create momentum for a two-state solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and brings peace to the region.
 
You know what's crazy? I was at this food festival last weekend and they had these insane truffle fries 🀯 I mean, who comes up with this stuff? The prices were like, woah! $20 for a small serving. I'm not even kidding, it was like eating gold or something. I swear, the rich are getting richer and the poor are just stuck in this never-ending cycle of poverty. It's wild to think about how these truffle fries are made from basically the cheapest ingredient (potatoes) and then they charge you an arm and a leg for them. Meanwhile, Palestinians are struggling to survive without even basic supplies... it's like, what's going on?
 
πŸ€” just read about marwan barghouti and i'm like...his story is so inspiring πŸ™Œ he's been in prison for 20+ yrs but still manages to unite ppl & gain respect from Hamas ranks 🀝 what's even more inspiring is that international figures like paul simon & margaret atwood are backing his release πŸŽΆπŸ“š

but let's be real, the Israeli gov't is being super stubborn about it πŸ˜’ refusing to release him despite all the humanitarian crisis in gaza πŸ€• it just goes to show how disconnected they are from the reality on the ground πŸ’” i mean, what's the point of having a two-state solution if you're not even willing to engage with ppl like barghouti? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ https://news.yahoo.com/marwan-bargh...rael-release-202401141-reuters-181116158.html
 
omg i just dont get why israel cant just let marwan barghouti out already 🀯 like he's not hurting anyone! i mean we all know the ceasaft in gaza has brought some respite but its not gonna last forever, ppl r still dyin & losin their homes πŸ πŸ’” my cousin's friend went to israel last yr & she said it was so depressing seeing all these ppl stuck on checkpoints πŸ’” & now this draft law introducing death penalty for terrorism is just savage πŸ’€ u need to read about the conditions of palestinian prisoners its harrowing πŸ€• we gotta start supporting marwan & his ppl in this fight 4 freedom & statehood πŸŒŽπŸ’–
 
can we even talk about this? like, how many years have they been living in exile and still no clear future for them? its all so frustrating 🀯πŸŒͺ️ Israel is literally just perpetuating this cycle of violence and displacement, and nobody's doing anything about it πŸš«πŸ’” Marwan Barghouti is just a symbol of what could've been if they had some real leadership and support from the international community πŸ’ͺ🏽. its all so messed up.
 
It's crazy how this crisis has been going on for years and still no resolution in sight 🀯. I mean, hundreds of families displaced just because of the military operations... it's heartbreaking. And Barghouti's release is like a glimmer of hope but at the same time Israel's not even willing to consider lifting that blockade 🚫. It's all about politics and power struggles over here. The fact that international figures are supporting his release shows that there's still some good will out there, but it's just so frustrating when things get stuck like this πŸ’”.
 
This whole situation with Marwan Barghouti is just so heartbreaking πŸ€•. It's like Israel is trying to strangle the life out of Palestinians. I mean, they're willing to release convicted murderers but not Barghouti? That's just ridiculous. And on top of that, the living conditions in Gaza are just appaling. It's like they're being treated as second-class citizens or something.

I'm so tired of hearing about two-state solutions and negotiations, but what about actual action? What about supporting organizations that provide aid to Palestinians? It's not just about politics; it's about human lives. Barghouti's release is a small step towards peace, but we need to do more to address the root causes of this conflict.

And can we please talk about the conditions for Palestinian prisoners? Those reports of beatings and intimidation are just horrific. It's like Israel is trying to break their spirits. We need to stand with Barghouti and support his release, not just because it's a humanitarian issue but also because it's a matter of basic human rights.

We need to recognize the urgency of this situation and create momentum for real change. Not just lip service or empty promises, but actual action that supports Palestinian self-determination and statehood. Anything less is just not enough πŸ’ͺ
 
omg i feel so bad for marwan barghouti & his fam he's been in prison for like 20 yrs & ppl r still fighting 4 his release 🀯 it's not just about him tho, its about the entire palestinian ppl who are struggling 2 survive in a humanitarian crisis. they deserve better! i wish paul simon, delia smith & margaret atwood would come 2 israel & see for themselves what's really going on πŸ’” also can we pls talk abt the fact that israel is willing 2 release convicted murderers but not barghouti? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ it just shows how biased they r towards their own ppl. anywayz, i hope the us president listens 2 the ppl & supports barghouti's release πŸ’ͺ
 
I mean, what even is the point of a "political horizon" when it comes to Palestinians? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ They're still stuck in this perpetual cycle of displacement, poverty, and bloodshed... it's like they'll never be able to catch a break πŸ˜’. And Marwan Barghouti, who's been imprisoned for what, 20+ years now? πŸ•°οΈ It's not like he's exactly some sort of free spirit or anything; he was convicted of murder after all πŸ€”. But hey, if releasing him will make international figures like Paul Simon and Margaret Atwood swoon, I'm all for it 😊. Maybe then the Israeli government will finally realize that they need to lift their blockade and start letting some aid through? 🚧 Wouldn't that be a miracle? ✨
 
I feel so bad for the ppl stuck in Gaza πŸ€• but at the same time I see Marwan Barghouti as like this amazing symbol of hope πŸ’« he's not just fighting 4 freedom & justice, he's also bringing people together across factions & age groups πŸ‘΄πŸ»πŸ‘Šβ€β™‚οΈ his story is so inspiring! And it's crazy that the world is finally starting to take notice 🌎 I mean, who wouldn't want to see a peaceful coexistence between Israelis & Palestinians? 🀝 we need more positivity like Barghouti in our lives right now 🌈
 
πŸ€” I mean, what's going on with Israel and Palestine? It's been ages since we've seen any real progress on a two-state solution, and it's crazy how much suffering the Palestinian people are still going through πŸŒͺ️. Marwan Barghouti is like, a symbol of hope for so many people, but it's frustrating that his release is being used as a bargaining chip instead of actually addressing the root causes of the conflict πŸ’”.

I also don't get why Israel is making things worse by denying basic supplies to the Gaza strip πŸ™„. It's like they're trying to starve the people into submission or something. And then they have the nerve to claim that Barghouti is a terrorist? Give me a break! πŸ˜’

But for real, if we want to see some progress on this issue, we need to step up our game and show some support for Palestinian rights 🌟. Maybe it's time for us to rethink our stance on the two-state solution and actually start working towards a peaceful resolution πŸ’­.

What do you guys think? Am I just being naive or is there actually hope for this situation? πŸ˜•
 
omg i just got my wifi back after like 2 days πŸ“±πŸ˜© anyway did u know that there's this new app that lets u order food from ur fave restaurants and have it delivered in like 30 mins? πŸ΄πŸ‘Œ gotta try it out ASAP πŸ‘‰ what do u think about the israeli situation tho? seems soooo complicated 🀯 i dont get how marwan barghouti is a symbol of hope for statehood and peace... isnt that kinda confusing? πŸ˜• like whats wrong with him again?
 
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left." πŸŒͺ️

The situation in Gaza is heartbreaking, with Palestinians struggling to survive amidst a humanitarian crisis. The fact that Marwan Barghouti's release has become a rallying cry for Palestinians highlights the desperation of their situation. It's time for the international community to take action and recognize the urgency of the situation.
 
πŸ’” It's like, super frustrating that Barghouti is still stuck in prison 🚫 while hundreds of Palestinians are displaced and struggling to access basic supplies 🀯. The Israeli government's blockade is a major obstacle, but it's not just that - it's also the lack of recognition for Palestinian rights and the fact that Barghouti is seen as a terrorist by some πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ.

I think what's crazy is how one man can unite factions and become a symbol of hope for statehood πŸ’₯. It's like, we need to see Barghouti's release as a way forward, not just a humanitarian gesture 🌟. The international community needs to step up and support Palestinian self-determination and statehood - it's the only way we'll get peace in the region πŸ•ŠοΈ.

The US president should definitely raise the issue of Barghouti's release πŸ‘Š, but it's also time for us as a global community to take action πŸ’ͺ. We need to recognize the urgency of this situation and support Palestinian rights - no more excuses! πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ
 
Ugh, it's like they're playing with fire over here 😩. I mean, what's up with Israel being all cold on Barghouti? He's not asking for much, just a bit of freedom after 20 years in the slammer 🀯. And let's be real, he's not exactly a terrorist mastermind like some folks might make him out to be πŸ˜’. The fact that they're willing to release convicted murderers but not him is just plain messed up πŸ’”. It's time for some world leaders to step in and show they care about the Palestinian people 🌎. We can't keep living like this, where one side gets to hold all the cards πŸƒ. A two-state solution sounds like a nice idea, but it's gotta be done in a way that respects everyone's rights πŸ™.
 
I think it's totally ridiculous that people are getting all worked up about Marwan Barghouti's release πŸ™„. I mean, come on, he's been in prison for over 20 years and now everyone's like "oh poor him" πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ? Meanwhile, the Israeli government is being super reasonable by not releasing convicted murderers like that... it's just common sense, right? 😏 And let's be real, the Palestinian people aren't exactly in a great spot either - they're struggling with poverty and displacement, but everyone's more concerned about Barghouti's personal freedom πŸ™„. It's time to get some perspective on this whole thing and stop making him out to be some kind of hero πŸ€”.
 
🀯 come on guys, stop playing politics with lives. Marwan Barghouti is like the David Beckham of Palestine - charismatic leader who unites factions, but also has to deal with Israel's dirty tricks. I mean, we're not even talking about his conviction here... what's the point of condemning him and then saying "oh, but he's a symbol of hope"? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ We need action, not just words. And let's be real, if Israel can release convicted murderers like Shireen Abu Aqla, why are they holding onto Barghouti? It's all about control and manipulation. πŸ’” The US needs to step up and pressure Israel to make some serious concessions. Palestinians deserve better than this humanitarian crisis and a dead-end politics. πŸ’ͺ
 
it's so sad to see marwan barghouti stuck in that prison for so long πŸ€•, i mean, it feels like he's been in there since the dawn of time... anyway, i remember when paul simon used to be all about politics and social justice back in the day 🎢, now he's using his platform to support barghouti's release... it's nice to see him still cares about these kinds of issues. but seriously, the situation in gaza is dire and needs international attention ASAP 🚨. i just wish we could fast forward to a time when palestinians can live their lives without fear of being displaced or persecuted...
 
the news about marwan barghouti is so heartbreaking πŸ€• i just wanna see him free already ... but at the same time i get why its complicated - both sides have their own issues, like who is right or wrong is super subjective and can lead to even more bloodshed πŸ˜” maybe we should focus on what Barghouti himself says about peace and coexistence? and also what international figures are supporting him for? that could be a good starting point for real change πŸ’‘
 
πŸ’” the usual suspects are still holding Israel hostage 🀯 anyone thinking marwan barghouti is just some terrorist should do some basic research on his human rights record πŸ™„ meanwhile, the real terrorists are still roaming free in israel... just saying πŸ‘€ the international community's always so quick to recognize palestinian nationhood but not until someone actually agrees to be a good neighbor πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ or does anyone actually care about statehood vs. human rights? πŸ€”
 
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