Jailed Palestinian leader Barghouti ‘brutally beaten’ in Israeli prisons

The “Free Marwan” international campaign reported that prominent Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has faced “brutal” physical assaults inside Israeli prisons, including three beatings in less than a month. The attacks occurred while Barghouti was held in solitary confinement at Megiddo and Ramon prisons in northern and southern Israel, on the eve of the 24th anniversary of his capture.

Beatings and denial of medical care

Barghouti, detained by Israeli forces in 2002 and serving a life sentence over charges related to the second Palestinian intifada, told his lawyer during a Sunday visit that he endured “brutal physical assaults in recent weeks.” Prison suppression units attacked him three times — on April 8, March 25, and March 24 — using various methods of force, causing multiple injuries and bleeding across his body without providing medical treatment, the group added. The campaign said Barghouti has faced a “systematic series” of assaults since the start of the Gaza war.

Threats from minister and refusal to release

On Feb. 18, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered Barghouti’s cell and threatened to kill him, according to Israeli media video. Despite prisoner exchange deals under the October 10 ceasefire, Israel has refused to release Barghouti and other high-profile detainees. Over 9,300 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including women and children. Violence in the West Bank has intensified since October 2023, killing over 1,148 Palestinians and leading to 22,000 arrests.