Palestinians Condemn Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir for Threatening Marwan Barghouti During Jail Visit

Palestinian officials have strongly denounced far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after footage emerged of him taunting imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti during a visit to an Israeli prison.

The video, shared on social media Thursday, shows Ben-Gvir confronting the 66-year-old Barghouti—jailed since 2002, including years in solitary confinement—with threatening remarks: “You won’t win. Whoever messes with the nation of Israel, whoever murders our children and women—we will wipe them out.” He added, “You should know this—[this happened] throughout history.”

Outcry Over “State Terrorism” and Inhumane Treatment

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the incident “in the strongest terms,” calling Ben-Gvir’s actions “an unprecedented provocation and organized state terrorism” that aligns with “crimes of genocide, displacement, and annexation faced by Palestinian prisoners and our people.”

The ministry stated that the Palestinian Authority would escalate the matter with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), foreign governments, and international bodies.

Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa, decried the treatment of her husband and other Palestinian prisoners, writing on Facebook: “Even in solitary confinement, the occupation pursues you. The shackles may bind your hands, but your spirit remains unbroken—free, free, free.” She added that his greatest pain comes from “the suffering of our people and our inability to protect our children.”

First Public Footage in Years Sparks Alarm

Israeli Channel 12 aired clips of Ben-Gvir’s visit to Ganot Prison, reporting that the minister was inspecting tightened restrictions on Palestinian detainees. The video marked the first public sighting of Barghouti in years.

His family and rights groups say he has been held in isolation since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023. Relatives who viewed the footage told Al Jazeera Arabic that Barghouti appeared “shockingly frail,” likely due to “exhaustion and hunger,” raising fears for his life in custody.

In October, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society accused Israeli authorities of “brutally assaulting” Barghouti in solitary confinement—a claim denied by the Israel Prisons Service.

Background on Barghouti’s Imprisonment

Barghouti, a prominent Fatah figure, was convicted in 2004 for his alleged role in attacks during the Second Intifada and sentenced to five life terms plus 40 years. Despite his imprisonment, he remains a influential political symbol, with some viewing him as a potential future Palestinian leader.

The incident has intensified scrutiny over Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners and the escalating rhetoric of its far-right officials.

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