Ahmed Barghouti, Senior Al-Aqsa Commander, released in today's prisoner exchange

Ahmed Barghouti, a high-ranking commander in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, walked free today after more than two decades in Israeli prison, as part of a significant prisoner-hostage exchange that saw three Israeli captives returned from Gaza.

Barghouti, 48, was serving 13 life sentences plus 50 years for orchestrating multiple deadly attacks during the Second Intifada, including the 2002 Tel Aviv Seafood Market bombing that killed three people and a shooting at a Hadera bat mitzvah celebration where six people lost their lives. His release comes with the condition of deportation to Egypt rather than return to Judea and Samaria, reflecting Israeli security concerns about his potential future activities.

The former commander's freedom carries particular political weight due to his connection to Marwan Barghouti, his cousin and a senior Fatah leader who remains imprisoned. Ahmed Barghouti was arrested alongside Marwan in Ramallah in 2002, during a period of intense violence in the Second Intifada.

As part of today's exchange, which included 369 Palestinian detainees, the Israel Prison Service required released prisoners to wear sweatshirts bearing the Star of David and an Arabic message stating "We will not forget nor forgive" - a controversial decision that sparked criticism as politically motivated.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club noted that most released detainees were from Gaza and had been arrested after October 7, 2023. However, 36 of those released, including Barghouti, were serving life sentences. Twenty-five of the released prisoners, Barghouti among them, face deportation as part of their release conditions.

Barghouti's release has generated mixed reactions, with Palestinian advocates celebrating his "appointment with freedom" while Israeli sources emphasize his history of violent attacks. His deportation to Egypt opens a new chapter in his story, though his future role in Palestinian politics or resistance activities remains uncertain, particularly given his historic ties to both the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and the broader Fatah movement.