Palestinian leader Barghouti endures ‘violent’ assaults in Israeli prisons

Popular Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has faced a series of “violent” assaults in Israeli jails in recent weeks, raising new concerns that his life may be at risk, according to his lawyer.

Lawyer Ben Marmarelli said in a statement published on Wednesday on the Telegram page of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office that Barghouti, who has been serving a life sentence imposed by Israel since 2002, had been subjected to three assaults over March and April, indicating a pattern of “escalating violations”.

The 66-year-old, a senior leader of President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, was left to bleed after being severely beaten in Ganot Prison in central Israel on April 8, with requests for medical attention denied, said Marmarelli, following a visit to his client on Sunday.

On March 25, he was assaulted while being transferred from Megiddo Prison in the north to Ganot. The day before, guards had “stormed his cell with a dog, forced him to lie on the floor, and then the dog repeatedly attacked him”, said Marmarelli.

In a statement issued on the eve of the 24th anniversary of his capture, the “Free Marwan” international campaign said Barghouti had been subjected to “new brutal assaults” while held in solitary confinement in Megiddo and at Ramon Prison in southern Israel.

Marmarelli described the conditions of his five-hour visit as “harsh and inhumane”, saying he and his client had been forced “to shout through the glass to communicate”.

Despite the brutal conditions of his captivity, Barghouti was described as “sharp-minded, focused, and fully engaged in following events outside the prison walls”.

Palestine’s Mandela taunted

Barghouti, who is regarded as a likely key player in the creation of any Palestinian state because of his ability to unite various political factions, is serving five life sentences in Israeli prisons on charges related to alleged attacks during the second Intifada, which lasted from 2000 to 2005.

In October last year, Barghouti’s son said his father had been severely beaten by Israeli guards during a prison transfer in September, resulting in four broken ribs and head injuries.

Last year, he was taunted in his cell at Ganot Prison by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was shown telling the captive, “you won’t win” in a video broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12 media outlet.

It marked the first sighting of the man regarded by many as Palestine’s Nelson Mandela in years, with relatives noting his “shocking” appearance caused by “exhaustion and hunger”.

Israel has refused to release Barghouti and other high-profile detainees in recent exchange deals under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement that entered into effect on October 10.

A new Israeli law approving the one-sided use of the death penalty targeting Palestinians has raised fears of a mass execution of captives held on “terror” charges in Israeli prisons.