Footage shows far-right minister taunting 66-year-old Palestinian leader during jail visit.
Palestinian officials have condemned far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s taunting visit to the jail cell of long-imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
Footage of the visit shared on social media on Thursday showed the minister making threatening remarks to the 66-year-old.
In the footage, Ben-Gvir is seen telling Barghouti, who has been in prison since 2002, including years in solitary confinement: “You won’t win. Whoever messes with the nation of Israel, whoever murders our children and women – we will wipe them out.”
“You should know this, [this happened] throughout history,” Ben-Gvir added.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident “in the strongest terms”.
In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said Ben-Gvir’s actions were “an unprecedented provocation and organised state terrorism, falling within the framework of the crimes of genocide, displacement, and annexation faced by the prisoners and our people”.
It added that the Palestinian Authority will take the threat seriously and will follow up with the International Committee of the Red Cross, relevant states, the international community, and its specialised organisations and councils.
Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa, said he and other Palestinian prisoners are subjected to inhumane treatment behind bars.
“They are still, Marwan, chasing you and pursuing you even in the solitary cell you’ve been living in for two years, and the struggle of the occupation and its figures with you continues. The shackles are on your hands, but I know your spirit and determination, and I know you will remain free, free, free,” she wrote in a statement on Facebook.
“I know that the only thing that can shake you is what you hear about your people’s pain, and the only thing that crushes and wounds you is the failure to protect our sons and daughters. You are of the people; wherever you are among the people, you are one of them and part of them.”
media’s Gabriel Elizondo asked at a daily United Nations briefing in New York if Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had seen the video of Barghouti being interrogated and what was the reaction to it.
The UN chief’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric replied, “I can tell you that the video is disturbing. We’re aware of the video. And it’s worth reminding that, prisoners need to be treated, that need to be treated, in a way that abides by international law and that respects their inherent dignity.”
‘Shocking’
Israel’s Channel 12 broadcast a video clip of Ben-Gvir’s visit at Ganot Prison in central Israel. The channel reported that the minister’s visit was intended to oversee stricter conditions for Palestinian prisoners.
The video marks the first time for years that footage of Barghouti has been published. His family and rights groups said he has been in solitary confinement since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023 after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel.
Relatives of Barghouti who viewed the footage told media Arabic there was a “shocking” appearance in his features, apparently from “exhaustion and hunger”, and expressed fear that he would die in custody.
In October, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society accused Israeli prison staff of “brutally assaulting” and injuring Barghouti while he was being held in solitary confinement.
The claims that he has several times been beaten by prison staff have been denied by the Israel Prisons Service.
The Fatah leader was sentenced to five life sentences plus 40 years for his alleged role in planning attacks that caused the deaths of five civilians during the second Intifada.
