Marwan Barghouti Release Petition Signed by 200+ Actors

More than 200 actors from across the entertainment industry have signed a petition demanding the United Nations and world governments take action to secure the release of Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison.

The "Free Marwan Now" campaign, organized over the weekend, includes signatures from Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Ruffalo, Kate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Elliot Page, Don Cheadle, Tatiana Maslany, and Riz Ahmed. The petition also carries support from musicians including Sting, Paul Simon, and Annie Lennox, as well as "Succession" actor Brian Cox and author Margaret Atwood.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the campaign expressed concern over Barghouti's continued imprisonment, alleging "violent treatment toward him and denial of his legal rights while in custody."

Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian figure, is serving five life sentences plus an additional 40 years after being convicted in 2003 for involvement in suicide bombings during the Second Intifada. He led Fatah's militant "Tanzim" wing during a period that saw multiple terrorist attacks, including bombings that killed five Israelis.

During recent prisoner exchange negotiations, Israel vetoed Barghouti's release, citing his seniority within Palestinian political and militant structures and concerns that many view him as a potential successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The petition marks a continuation of Hollywood activism around Israeli-Palestinian issues, adding significant celebrity weight to international calls for his release.