Now Marwan Barghouti's freedom is at stake in cease-fire negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Hamas leaders demanded Friday that Israel release Barghouti, a leader of the militant group’s main political rival, as part of any deal to end the fighting in Gaza. Israel is seeking the release of more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. With the lives of over 100 hostages now hanging in the balance, there is more pressure than ever on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners. That may make conditions ripe for a deal that could simultaneously win Barghouti’s release and bolster Hamas’ standing among Palestinians.

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Persons: — He's, Nelson Mandela, He's, Marwan Barghouti's, Barghouti, “, ”, Qadoura, Osama Hamdan, Benjamin Netanyahu, HaMoked, Hamdan, — Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, Saadat, Mahmoud Abbas ’ Fatah, Abbas, Fatah, Ismail Haniyeh, Yehya Sinwar, Fares Organizations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Palestinian Ministry of Prisoner Affairs, West Bank, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, West, Bir Zeit University Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Hamas, West Bank, Jerusalem —, Kobar, Bir, Jordan