Family expresses concern for Marwan Barghouti’s safety while he is incarcerated in an Israeli prison.

The son of prominent Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti has expressed deep concerns for his father’s well-being amidst troubling reports of alleged mistreatment in Israeli custody. In an interview with ZezapTV, Arab Barghouti stated his belief that his father has become a target due to his influential role in uniting Palestinians during a time of significant tension.

Arab Barghouti, speaking from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, revealed that the family received testimonies from recently released Palestinian detainees indicating that Marwan Barghouti was subjected to physical violence from guards as he was transferred between prisons in mid-September. This incident, he noted, marks the fourth reported instance of assault against his father since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023.

Marwan Barghouti, a key figure in the Fatah political faction that leads the Palestinian Authority (PA), has been incarcerated since the early 2000s and is serving five life sentences and an additional 40 years on charges he has consistently denied. Despite his imprisonment, a May poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research identified Barghouti as the most favored Palestinian leader, surpassing other notable figures, including Hamas official Khaled Meshaal and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

Calls for Barghouti’s release have intensified, particularly in light of the recent ceasefire agreement facilitated between Israel and Hamas, which led to the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. However, the Israeli government did not acquiesce to demands for Barghouti’s release, indicating a lack of willingness to engage with key Palestinian leadership.

Witness accounts from released prisoners highlight a pattern of systematic violence within Israeli prisons, describing the conditions as “barbaric.” Mohammad al-Ardah, one of the recently freed detainees, claimed that Barghouti had sustained serious injuries, including multiple broken ribs. While the Israeli authorities have condemned these allegations, asserting that operations within the prison system adhere to legal standards and prioritize inmate safety, skepticism regarding these claims persists among the Palestinian community.

Arab Barghouti emphasized the perceived threat his father poses to the current status quo, asserting that Marwan seeks to foster stability and a unified Palestinian vision embraced by the international community. He pointed to a controversial incident involving Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who allegedly threatened Marwan Barghouti in prison, as indicative of the broader attempts to silence his father’s influential voice.

The family has persistently requested access for international legal representatives and the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Barghouti; however, these requests have remained unfulfilled. Arab Barghouti concluded with poignant remarks about his father’s desire for peace, emphasizing that the Israeli government recognizes the potential for Barghouti’s leadership to catalyze a cooperative future, which they appear to resist.

As the situation develops, the focus on Marwan Barghouti’s plight sheds light on broader issues surrounding incarceration practices and human rights within the region, highlighting the necessity for dialogue and understanding across divides.

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