Israel’s Far-Right Minister Berates Palestinian Leader Marwan Barghouti in Prison Encounter
In a significant development, Israeli far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video clip this Friday, featuring Marwan Barghouti, one of the most recognized Palestinian prisoners in Israel, after years of absence. The video, which has since circulated widely within Israel and the occupied West Bank, showcases Ben-Gvir confronting Barghouti inside his prison cell.
“You will not prevail. Anyone who targets Israeli civilians, anyone who perpetrates acts of violence against our children or women, we will eliminate,” Ben-Gvir is heard saying in the clip, though it remains unclear when exactly the video was recorded. In the brief 13-second excerpt available, Barghouti, now aged 66, appears gaunt and unrecognizable compared to his previous self, when he was a well-known political figure with considerable influence among Palestinians.
Currently serving five life sentences, Barghouti was convicted by an Israeli court in 2002 for involvement in planning attacks against civilians during the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising. His drastic weight loss and physical transformation have left Khader Shkirat, one of his lawyers, perplexed. “Upon receiving the video, I could hardly recognize Marwan. He’s significantly thinner now and his appearance has changed dramatically,” Shkirat told NPR. Confirming Barghouti’s identity proved necessary as the emaciated figure in the footage bore little resemblance to his former self.
Data provided by the Israel Prison Service indicates that approximately 10,700 Palestinians are currently detained by Israel, with a notable increase since the October 2023 attack by Hamas. This count includes several thousand individuals held without trial and often without formal charges. The number does not account for an undefined number of Palestinians from Gaza who have been detained during nearly two years of conflict.
In addition, at least 76 Palestinian detainees have lost their lives within Israeli custody over the past 22 months of warfare, according to reports by Palestinian prisoners’ organizations.
Barghouti has long been considered a symbol of unity for many Palestinians and is reportedly the prisoner most sought after in prisoner exchange negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Despite his exclusion from previous proposed exchanges, Shkirat remains hopeful that Barghouti will be released in the future.
“Barghouti will regain his freedom and lead his people,” he asserted. Concurrently, discussions regarding Ben-Gvir’s potential arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court have been raised. Ben-Gvir, who has faced multiple convictions in Israel, including charges of supporting a terrorism organization, has garnered attention for his controversial actions and publicity-seeking behavior.
Recent incidents include openly reciting a Jewish prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site revered by both Muslims and Jews, and advocating for Jewish settlements in defiance of international law within the occupied West Bank. Since Israel’s conflict with Hamas began in 2023, Ben-Gvir has also emphasized the need to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians to make way for new Jewish settlements.
Aya Batrawy provided additional reporting for this article.