Israel’s Far-Right Security Minister Sparks Outrage with Taunting Visit and Threats Against Prominent Palestinian Prisoner Marwan Barghouti

In a controversial move, Israel’s hardline Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir shared a video on his Telegram channel this week, which depicted him taunting Marwan Barghouti, the most prominent Palestinian prisoner. The footage was taken during a visit to Barghouti in jail and has sparked widespread condemnation.

Barghouti, 66, who is currently serving five life sentences following his 2002 conviction for orchestrating attacks that led to the death of five Israeli civilians, has not been publicly seen for many years. In the brief 13-second clip, Barghouti appears visibly frail, with a gaunt physique and arms held together in front as he nods slightly.

In the video, Ben Gvir can be heard taunting Barghouti, threatening him by stating, “Whoever harms the people of Israel, whoever kills children, women, we will wipe them out.” Barghouti seems to attempt a response, saying, “You know…” before being interrupted by Ben Gvir. The video ends abruptly with Ben Gvir asserting, “No no, you must know this, throughout all of history.”

Opinion polls consistently rank Barghouti as the most popular Palestinian political figure, and his incarceration has only boosted his prestige among Palestinians. Despite his lengthy prison sentence, some view him as a potential successor to the aging Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Barghouti is rarely seen, with significant intervals between public videos or images being released. However, he continues to wield considerable influence and is considered one of the few individuals who could rally Palestinians behind a single leader.

There have been numerous attempts by Palestinians to secure Barghouti’s release, including reportedly during ceasefire negotiations during the current conflict. However, Israel has consistently refused to entertain the idea of releasing him.

The video prompted an immediate response from Palestinian officials who criticized Ben Gvir’s message and expressed concern over Barghouti’s condition. According to his family and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Barghouti has been held in solitary confinement since the conflict began on October 7.

Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa Al Barghouti, posted on social media that she did not recognize him initially, stating, “Maybe part of me doesn’t want to acknowledge everything that your face and body express.” She continued, “They are still, Marwan, pursuing you and following you even in the solitary confinement cell where you’ve been living for two years. The struggle against the occupation and its symbols with you continues, and the chains are still on your hands.”

A cousin of Barghouti told CNN that the video showed “something most awful,” adding that his relative looked “so thin” and “so weakened,” which he attributed to his cousin being “starved in his prison.”

When asked about Ben Gvir’s motives for humiliating Barghouti, Mustafa Barghouti responded, “The far-right minister didn’t humiliate Marwan – he humiliated himself. You can’t humiliate a person who is weakened by being put in jail and confined to a cell.”

It remains unclear why Ben Gvir decided to post the video, which was filmed in a high-security prison in southern Israel where Barghouti is imprisoned. Ben Gvir is known for making provocative statements and has previously served time in jail for incitement against Arabs.

Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh denounced Ben Gvir’s threats as “the height of psychological, moral, and physical terrorism practiced against prisoners, and a violation of international and humanitarian conventions and norms.” Raed Abu Al-Humus, the head of the Palestinian Authority for Prisoners and Released Prisoners’ Affairs, declared that Ben Gvir is “fully responsible” for Barghouti’s life and warned that the threatening visit was a “dangerous indication of the intentions” of Ben Gvir.