Mandela of Mideast

H: has already earned the sobriquet of Nelson Mandela of the

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Arab world. Like the crusader against apartheid, he has also been inside Israeli jails for long years - over two decades till date. There was hope amidst international pressure for his release when a host of Palestinian prisoners were released as assumed in the terms of the recent Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. But, Marwan Barghouti has not been freed. Middle East watchers say Israel is not much afraid of murderers as of Marwan, who has become the rallying point of different factions of Palestinians for the creation of a Palestinian state. Even US President Donald Trump, the architect of the ceasefire, promised he would talk to the Israeli authorities for Marwan’s release, but he is yet to do so. In this backdrop, disturbing reports are emanating from Israel about alleged torture of Marwan inside the prison. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has even warned of a “dangerous plan” to assassinate Marwan inside Israeli jails, amid allegations of severe assaults and growing international calls for his release.