Arab Barghouti, son of prominent Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti, has expressed deep concern for his father’s safety amid reports that Israeli prison guards allegedly beat him last month. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Ramallah, Arab accused Israeli authorities of targeting his father to silence a unifying figure among Palestinians.
“We do fear for my father’s life,” Arab said, highlighting the ongoing risks his father faces while in Israeli detention.
Alleged Assaults in Israeli Prisons
According to testimonies received from Palestinian detainees released as part of the recent Gaza ceasefire deal, Marwan Barghouti was reportedly beaten in mid-September during a transfer between two Israeli prisons. Arab Barghouti noted that this assault marks the fourth time his father has been physically attacked since the October 2023 outbreak of hostilities in Gaza.
“They are targeting him,” Arab said, emphasizing that Israel perceives his father as a threat due to his ability to unite Palestinians.
Marwan Barghouti: Palestinian Leader and Prisoner
Barghouti, a senior member of the Fatah political faction, has been in Israeli custody since the early 2000s. He is serving five life sentences plus 40 years for charges including murder and attempted murder, all of which he has consistently denied. Despite his imprisonment, he remains an influential figure in Palestinian politics.
A Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll conducted in May found that Barghouti is the most popular Palestinian leader, surpassing Hamas official Khaled Meshaal and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.
Gaza Ceasefire and Calls for Release
During the recent Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Palestinians had called for Barghouti’s release. However, Israel refused to free him. As part of the agreement, Israel released 250 Palestinians serving life sentences—some of whom were exiled abroad—and freed about 1,700 detainees transferred from Gaza during the conflict.
Mohammad al-Ardah, a recently released prisoner, told Al Jazeera Arabic that Israeli forces carried out weekly prison raids, severely beating Palestinian detainees. He claimed that Barghouti reportedly suffered three broken ribs during these incidents.
The Israel Prison Service denied that Barghouti was beaten, asserting to the BBC that it “operates in accordance with the law, while ensuring the safety and health of all inmates.”
Threats from Israeli Officials
Arab Barghouti also cited a video from August in which far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir allegedly threatened Barghouti in prison. In the footage, Ben-Gvir reportedly showed Barghouti an electric chair on his phone and said, “This is your fate.” Arab described this as a direct threat to his father’s life.
The family has repeatedly requested that international lawyers and the International Committee of the Red Cross be allowed to visit Barghouti, but Israeli authorities have denied these requests.
Calls for Peace and Stability
Arab emphasized that his father represents a unifying vision for Palestinians and a potential partner for peace. “They see him as a danger because he wants to bring stability, he wants to end the cycle of violence. He wants a unifying Palestinian vision that is accepted by everyone, and the international community as well,” he said.
“They know what my father represents, and they don’t want that. They don’t want a partner for peace.”
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