--- ## **🧑‍🎓 Biography & Political Career** - **Born** on June 6, 1959, in Kobar, a village near Ramallah in the West Bank  . - Joined **Fatah** at age 15 and helped found its youth movement. He became a prominent student leader at Birzeit University, earning a BA in History and Political Science (1994) and an MA in International Relations (1998)  . - During the **First Intifada** (1987–1993), Barghouti emerged as a protest leader in the West Bank. He was deported to Jordan in 1987 under the Oslo Accords and returned in 1994, when he became Fatah’s secretary-general in the West Bank and was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1996  . --- ## **⚔️ Second Intifada, Arrest & Imprisonment** - During the **Second Intifada** (2000–2005), Barghouti allegedly led the Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (a Fatah-affiliated armed group called Tanzim) and was accused of directing armed attacks. He rejected many peace process institutions and adopted militant resistance as part of his strategy  . - Arrested by [[Israel]] in 2002, he was tried in 2004 and convicted on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. He refused to recognise the legitimacy of the Israeli court and declined to defend himself. He is now serving **five consecutive life sentences plus 40 years** in [[Prison]]  . --- ## **🕊️ Influence from Prison** - Barghouti remains a powerful figure in Palestinian [[Politics]] even while jailed. He helped draft the **Prisoners’ National Conciliation Document** in 2006 with leaders from Fatah, Hamas, PFLP, PIJ and DFLP, and played a role in forging the **Mecca Agreement** in 2007 calling for unity among Palestinian factions  . - He has led hunger strikes over prison conditions and coordinated prisoner [[Activism]] from incarceration  . --- ## **🌍 Popularity & Legacy** - Often referred to by Palestinians as the **“Palestinian Nelson Mandela,”** Barghouti is widely regarded as the most popular Palestinian leader among voters, frequently topping hypothetical polls even surpassing President Mahmoud Abbas  . - He supports a **two‑state solution**, advocating Israel’s withdrawal to pre‑1967 borders while rejecting its occupation, although he also condones armed resistance, excluding attacks on civilian targets inside Israel  . --- ## **🆘 Current Situation & Human Rights Concerns** - Barghouti has recently been subjected to allegations of **severe mistreatment and assault** while incarcerated—reports include beatings, extended solitary confinement, denial of medical care, and being stripped and dragged without security oversight. Human rights groups and the UN have flagged these conditions as possible torture  . - His name has arisen in hostages‑for‑prisoners negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Hamas and other Palestinian groups demand his release in exchange for Israeli hostages, viewing him as a central figure for national unity and future leadership  . --- ## **📊 Summary Table** |**Aspect**|**Details**| |---|---| |**Birth**|6 June 1959, Kobar (Ramallah area), West Bank| |**Political Affiliation**|Fatah; prominent in Tanzim armed wing| |**Positions**|PLC member (since 1996); Fatah Central Committee| |**Imprisonment**|Arrested 2002; convicted 2004; serving 5 life terms + 40 years| |**Legacy**|Seen as potential Palestinian president; symbol of resistance and unity| |**Human Rights Issues**|Alleged abuse and torture in prison| |**Future Role**|Central figure in potential reconciliation and leadership transition| --- Would you like insights into the evolving prisoner release negotiations or Barghouti’s possible candidacy prospects in future elections, Lord Thomas? `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`