Marwan Barghouti: Grave Safety Concerns Amid Torture Allegations in Israeli Prison

Grave Concerns Erupt Over Marwan Barghouti's Safety in Israeli Custody

Ramallah, Occupied Palestinian Territories – Deep anxieties are mounting among Palestinian factions regarding the well-being of prominent political figure Marwan Barghouti, currently incarcerated in an Israeli prison. These fears intensified following reports from his son, Qassam Barghouti, who initially claimed his father was subjected to severe torture by Israeli guards. While Qassam later removed his social media post to seek official confirmation, the allegations have ignited a firestorm of condemnation and amplified existing concerns for the 66-year-old leader's life.

Shocking Allegations of Abuse Surface

Qassam Barghouti's deleted Facebook post detailed a distressing call he reportedly received from a Palestinian prisoner. The caller, using an Israeli number, alleged that Marwan Barghouti had been brutally beaten by Israeli prison staff, leaving him “physically shattered.” The shocking claims included broken ribs, teeth, and a severed part of his ear, allegedly for the guards' “entertainment.” Qassam has since stated he is actively trying to re-establish contact with the caller to verify these grave accusations.

In response, a spokesperson for the Israel Prison Service vehemently denied the claims to The Times of Israel, labeling them “another total lie” and “propaganda” against their personnel.

Widespread Condemnation and Calls for Accountability

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society swiftly condemned the situation, describing it as a “new act of intimidation” targeting Barghouti's family and escalating their “grave concerns” for his safety. They asserted that this incident aligns with an “organised terrorism policy” by the “occupation regime” aimed at breaking prisoners' will and psychologically blackmailing their families.

The Palestinian presidency also voiced its condemnation of “continuous attacks and retaliatory measures” against Barghouti, holding the Israeli government fully responsible for his safety and that of all Palestinian prisoners.

Ofer Cassif, a left-wing Israeli Member of Parliament from the Hadash-Ta’al party, revealed he had spoken with Barghouti's family regarding the distressing reports. While expressing hope that these were merely intimidation tactics, he called for Marwan's release, stating, “I sincerely hope that this is indeed intimidation, diabolical to say the least, and nothing more. In any case: Free Marwan!”

A Symbol of Palestinian Unity and a Global Campaign

Marwan Barghouti, jailed since 2002, is a senior leader within President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group. He is widely considered by many as “Palestine's Nelson Mandela” due to his enduring political influence and perceived ability to unite various Palestinian factions. His family recently launched the international “Free Marwan” campaign, garnering support from prominent figures like writer Margaret Atwood and actor Javier Bardem, who signed on this week, fearing he might die in prison.

Barghouti is serving five life sentences on charges linked to the Second Intifada (2000-2005), charges he has consistently denied.

Broader Context: Escalating Prisoner Deaths and Harsh Conditions

Since Israel's offensive on Gaza began in October 2023, Barghouti's lawyer reports that he has been denied family visits and subjected to brutal assaults. In August, he was reportedly taunted in his cell by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. A video from Israel’s Channel 12 showed Ben-Gvir telling Barghouti, “You won’t win,” revealing the leader's “shocking” appearance due to “exhaustion and hunger.”

Palestinians advocated for Barghouti’s release as part of a recent ceasefire with Hamas, but Israel rejected the request. While a truce saw Israel release 250 Palestinians and 1,700 Gazan detainees, Barghouti remained imprisoned. One released prisoner, Mohammad al-Ardah, recounted “barbaric” weekly raids in prisons and claimed “the great leader Marwan Barghouti... they broke three of his ribs.”

As of November 2025, over 9,300 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli facilities, including 3,368 under administrative detention. Alarmingly, Israeli and Palestinian rights groups report at least 94 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have died in Israeli custody since October 2023. Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) accused Israeli authorities of “systematic killings and coverups” in a November report. The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society recently confirmed three more deaths of prisoners from Gaza, attributing them to torture, starvation, medical neglect, sexual assault, and systematic human rights violations.