An international campaign to free popular Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, who has been jailed in Israel since 2002, is gathering pace, with more than 200 A-listers, from Margaret Atwood to Javier Bardem, lending their support.

“We express our grave concern at the continuing imprisonment of Marwan Barghouti, his violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights whilst imprisoned,” said an open letter published on Wednesday, calling on the United Nations and governments to take action.

Most of the high-profile cultural signatories were already active in efforts to bring an end to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza , but the new letter is part of an international “Free Marwan” campaign launched by Barghouti’s family earlier this week.

Barghouti, a senior leader of President Mahmoud Abbas’

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