US lawmaker calls on ‘Israel’ to release Marwan Barghouti

• Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna says Palestinians must be able to choose their own leaders.
• Khanna says Barghouti could play a role in advancing a future two-state agreement.
• Barghouti has been imprisoned since his arrest by ‘Israeli’ forces in 2002 and denies the charges against him.

US Democratic Representative Ro Khanna has called on ‘Israel’ to release imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, saying Palestinians should have a voice in determining their political future and that his release could help advance a lasting two-state agreement.

I am calling for the release of Marwan Bhargouti from Israeli prison. pic.twitter.com/z0T1vmlVho

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) September 25, 2026

“Today I'm calling for the release of Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison,” Khanna said in a video statement on Friday. “Palestinians must choose their own leaders.”

The California congressman described Barghouti as having a “unique standing” among Palestinian factions and said he is viewed by supporters as a strong, secular and non-corrupt leader who could help establish a Palestinian state living alongside ‘Israel’.

Khanna acknowledged Barghouti's past and stressed that his proposed release would not amount to a pardon or an absolution of crimes for which he was convicted.

He also cited human rights groups that have questioned the fairness of Barghouti's trial, while saying former ‘Israeli’ intelligence and military officials have supported his release. 

Barghouti, a senior Fatah figure who emerged as a prominent Palestinian leader during the First and Second Intifadas, was arrested by ‘Israeli’ forces in Ramallah in 2002. 

An ‘Israeli’ court convicted him in 2004 of murder-related charges linked to attacks during the Second Intifada and sentenced him to five life terms plus 40 years in prison.

Barghouti has denied ordering attacks on civilians and rejected the jurisdiction of the ‘Israeli’ court over his case. 

His imprisonment has made him a prominent figure in Palestinian politics and among supporters of his release. An international campaign calling for his freedom has attracted backing from more than 200 figures from the arts and cultural sectors, including actors Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian McKellen and Riz Ahmed. 

Khanna's intervention comes as Palestinians prepare for legislative elections scheduled for Nov. 28, which would be the first parliamentary vote in two decades, while presidential elections are planned for next year. 

Public opinion surveys have frequently placed Barghouti among leading potential candidates for the Palestinian presidency.

Khanna compared the potential role of Barghouti in a future peace process to the participation of former adversaries in political negotiations in Northern Ireland. He argued that a lasting settlement would require Palestinians to have a meaningful role in deciding their leadership and political future.

“For now, we must begin to give Palestinians a voice in their sovereignty and the peace process,” Khanna said.

Read more: Iran's Pezeshkian calls US, ‘Israel’ actions "Shameful"