The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis has been a persistent source of turmoil in the Middle East, with successive governments in both countries making claims and counterclaims of who has rights to certain territory or access to certain resources. Part of this conflict revolves around the detention of Palestinians, both civilians and those with militant ties, in Israeli prisons. Recently, Israel has released a list of potential Palestinian prisoners who could be released in a gesture of goodwill. But who are these prisoners and why were they detained in the first place?
The prisoners on the list include a range of individuals. Some are civilians, who have been detained in Israeli prisons for nonviolent protest or civil disobedience. Others are prisoners with militant connections who have been detained for alleged involvement in violence or terrorist activities. Among them are Marwan Barghouti, a founding member of the Palestinian Fatah movement and an iconic figure among Palestinians; Omar Barghouti, a Hamas leader; Samir al-Qanthawi, a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine; and Khaled Mashal, a senior leader in Hamas.
The main reason why these prisoners were detained by Israeli authorities is their alleged involvement in the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. Some of the prisoners, such as Marwan Barghouti, were arrested in the context of the Second Intifada, a period of intense conflict between the two governments. Others were arrested in connection with specific terrorist activities, such as suicide bombings or other attacks. Some were also arrested in connection with activities that support the Palestinian cause, but that involve nonviolent protest or civil disobedience.
The prisoners on the list are only a small fraction of the thousands of Palestinians who are currently imprisoned in Israeli prisons. But the release of these prisoners is seen as a potentially significant gesture of goodwill from the Israeli government, and could be a major step towards the peace process between the two sides. It is unclear whether the release of these prisoners will lead to a full normalization of relations between the two governments, but it is certainly a start.