National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday denied claims that Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti was tortured while being transferred between Israeli prisons, but added that he was “proud Barghouti’s conditions have drastically worsened.”
Earlier that day, Qatari outlet Al Araby TV cited a Palestinian source saying that Barghouti was “beaten and assaulted” as he was being transferred from Ramon Prison in the South to Megiddo Prison north of Jenin.
According to the news channel, Barghouti had four broken ribs as a result of the alleged beating, which caused him to lose consciousness temporarily.
'Games are over' for Palestinian prisoners, Ben-Gvir warns
Furthermore, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, Raed Abu al-Hummus, said in a statement released on Wednesday that Israel’s alleged torture amounted to “a real, systematic, and planned execution attempt” against Barghouti.
Hummus, who added that Barghouti was “in real danger,” said that “Barghouti’s blood flowed, his ribs were broken, and he was tortured until he lost consciousness.”
“The necessary medical intervention was not performed, and he was not taken to the hospital,” Hummus continued. “They merely gave him a pill.”
In response to these allegations, Ben-Gvir said that “terrorist Barghouti’s claims are false,” followed by, “We are proud that Barghouti’s conditions have drastically worsened in my tenure.”
Then the national security minister added, “The games are over. The murderer Barghouti now knows terrorists like him will be treated harshly, which is why he invents fake news to energize his despicable terrorist friends who left him behind.”
Who is Fatah terror leader Marwan Barghouti?
A West Bank native, Barghouti is a political and terrorist leader in Fatah who played a key role in the Second Intifada.
In April 2002, he was arrested in Ramallah during Operation Defensive Shield and was later convicted in an Israeli civilian court of five counts of murder and other offenses. Barghouti is currently serving five life sentences on top of added-on years.
Between April and May 2017, while leading a large prisoner hunger strike, the Israel Prison Service released footage that it said showed Barghouti secretly eating in his cell, a clip his supporters said was fabricated.
Barghouti remains one of the most popular Palestinian leaders, according to multiple surveys, and he has frequently been mentioned in negotiations as a top Hamas demand. He was included in a list of high-profile prisoners Hamas demanded Israel release as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump.
However, Israel had publicly stated that it would not release Barghouti, with the Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian, telling reporters last week, “I can say at this point that he will not be part of the Hamas ceasefire deal.”
Liran Haroni contributed to this report.