The Young Communist League of Britain proudly adds its name to the list of over 200
organisations and cultural figures calling for the immediate release of Marwan Barghouti from
Israeli prison.
Barghouti has been held since 2002, when in the midst of the Second Intifada the Israeli
government kidnapped him from the occupied territories before convicting him in an illegal
political trial on overblown charges with little evidence, in violation of international law. From a
sham trial to continued use of solitary confinement and torture, every step of Barghoutis
detention violates all relevant international laws and moral norms. Barghouti is widely seen as
both a leader and unifier of the Palestinian national movement and recognised as such by all
factions, who have continually attempted to negotiate his release. It is precisely because of this
that Israel continually refuses to free him – most recently in October when it is understood his
name was among those demanded by the Palestinian delegation at Sharm El-Sheikh.
Marwan Barghouti is far from the only political leader held in Israeli jails, where among others
Ahmed Sa’adat of the Popular Front has been held for a similar amount of time – often tortured
and held in isolation. However, these two are just some of the over 10,000 Palestinian captives
held in Israeli jails and subject to a systematic regime of torture, starvation, medical neglect and
sexual violence. These include doctors such as Dr Hassam Abu Safiya, community leaders like
Alaa Srouji and even children such as Jamil Ayyad, aged 13 – and of course comrades from our
fraternal organization the Palestinian Democratic Youth Union. Some, particularly from Gaza,
are simply disappeared for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, others are subject to
administrative detention – kidnapped then held for a minimum of 6 months up to an indefinite
period of time without charge or trial. This policy in fact dates to British imposed laws from the
mandate period, and reimposed by Rabin in 1985 as part of an ‘iron fisted’ policy. If this sounds
familiar it is because of similar conduct closer to home; Britain practised the same cruel
internment policies in Ireland in 1971.
For these reasons, as free people of the world and unwavering anti–imperialists, we demand the
freedom of Marwan Barghouti, freedom for all the prisoners struggling inside the Israeli jails and
an end to the illegal occupation which has jailed them. Free Barghouti, Free Palestine
YCL International Department
Young Communist League
13 December 2025
London, Britain
