JERUSALEM – The son of imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has alleged that an Israeli prison guard shot his father in the foot with a rubber bullet and denied him medical treatment.
Arab Barghouti stated that the incident occurred last week at Ganot Prison, located in the Negev desert. The family became aware of the shooting through Barghouti’s legal representative, Israeli civil rights attorney Avigdor Feldman.
The Israel Prison Service (IPS) rejected the claims, telling AFP that the allegation was “false and baseless.” The agency maintained that its staff operated “in accordance with the law and under continuous judicial oversight,” a reference to the oversight powers granted to Israeli courts and to the standards that apply under Israel’s interpretation of its obligations as an occupying power and under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The incident comes as Barghouti, 67, maintains significant political influence despite nearly 25 years of imprisonment. Convicted in 2004 by an Israeli court on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder for attacks during the second intifada – charges he has long rejected as politically motivated – he is widely regarded by Palestinians as a national leader rather than a marginal prisoner. Two months ago, he secured the highest number of votes among those elected to Fatah’s Central Committee during an internal vote, underscoring his continued standing inside the movement.
Allegations of Systematic Abuse
The reported shooting is the latest in a series of alleged assaults against the Palestinian leader. Legal representatives have documented multiple instances of physical violence and medical neglect, saying the pattern points to a punitive regime rather than isolated disciplinary measures.
Attorney Ben Marmarelli reported that Barghouti had been severely beaten during a visit on April 12, specifically citing attacks on the following dates:
- March 24
- March 25
- April 8
Marmarelli stated that Barghouti was left bleeding from several parts of his body, and on one occasion, remained bleeding for more than two hours without adequate medical intervention. Such claims, if verified, could place Israel at odds with its stated adherence to domestic prison regulations and to international norms on the treatment of detainees. The IPS stated it was unaware of these specific incidents and has not announced any internal investigation into the latest allegations.
Barghouti is believed to have been held in solitary confinement for two and a half years, a practice that rights groups say can amount to cruel or inhuman treatment when prolonged. Last year, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir published a video showing himself confronting Barghouti in his cell using threatening and condescending language – a highly unusual public display that signaled the minister’s personal involvement in the handling of high-profile Palestinian prisoners and fed criticism that incarceration policy is being driven by politics rather than security professionals.
Political Influence and Presidential Ambitions
Many Palestinians view Barghouti as a potential unifying leader, often referring to him as the “Palestinian Mandela.” His broad appeal extends across various factions, including Hamas, which has repeatedly requested his release in prisoner-exchange negotiations. Israel has consistently refused these requests, arguing that freeing him would embolden militant groups and reshape the Palestinian political arena in ways Israel cannot control.
Palestinian sources have indicated that Barghouti intends to run in the next presidential election, likely as Fatah’s candidate, should a vote be scheduled. This trajectory was signaled five years ago during a canceled election process, where he formed a list with Nasser al-Qudwa to challenge the official movement list, exposing internal rifts over succession to President Mahmoud Abbas and raising the prospect of a major reconfiguration of Palestinian Authority leadership.
International attention on his case increased last October when U.S. President Donald Trump stated he was considering Barghouti’s case and discussing the possibility of his release with White House aides. While no concrete initiative emerged, the remark elevated Barghouti’s name in diplomatic circles and highlighted how individual prisoners can become focal points in broader negotiations over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli Security Reports and Internal Debate
The reported assault coincides with a critical report issued by the IPS and published in the “Seven Days” supplement of Yedioth Ahronoth. The report characterized Barghouti’s current influence as a “form of intellectual terrorism,” reflecting an institutional view that his political messaging from prison poses an ongoing security threat even in the absence of direct operational control over armed groups.
The IPS report claimed Barghouti has replaced weapons with words to manipulate his image and is attempting to influence the voting patterns of Israel’s Arab community and members of the Knesset. An Israeli officer quoted in the report described him as:
“like Yahya Sinwar, only more cunning… A wolf in sheep’s clothing. He will mobilize an extremist force and, as soon as he has the opportunity, he will attack us. He is far more dangerous.”
The report has sparked a divide within the Israeli media over how intelligence assessments are being used in public debate. Journalist Raviv Drucker wrote in Haaretz that the report was “disgraceful” and accused Israeli intelligence of acting as a tool for Minister Ben-Gvir. Drucker argued that Barghouti could play a vital role in establishing a new Palestinian leadership capable of negotiating a political settlement.
Conversely, Channel 14 presenter Lital Shemesh rejected the possibility of a peace-seeking leadership emerging from among those convicted of terrorism offenses, stating that Barghouti, a convicted murderer, “must remain in prison until the last day of his life.” The clash underscores an internal Israeli argument over whether long-term stability is better served by isolating figures like Barghouti or by factoring them into future diplomatic frameworks.
International Response
The Arab League has called for the establishment of an international committee to investigate the “repeated assaults” against Barghouti. The organization is seeking to have the perpetrators brought before an international court, framing the case as a test of accountability mechanisms for the treatment of Palestinian prisoners held under Israeli control.
Fadwa Barghouti, a lawyer and the wife of the prisoner, issued a statement on Monday linking the recent IPS report and allegations of abuse to the growth of the international “Freedom for Marwan, Freedom for Palestine” campaign. She said the campaign is pushing governments, parliaments and regional organizations to raise Barghouti’s case in bilateral meetings with Israel and in multilateral forums.
“What the occupation has failed to understand throughout the past quarter of a century, and still fails to understand today, is that Marwan has never abandoned his conviction that freedom is a right and that the occupation will come to an end,” she said.
The Arab League’s request for an international investigation remains the primary diplomatic mechanism currently seeking a formal inquiry into the treatment of Barghouti, alongside existing legal debates over how international humanitarian law applies to long-term security detainees and to the obligations of an occupying power toward prisoners in its custody. For now, the IPS stance – that its conduct remains within the law – sits in sharp tension with mounting calls for outside scrutiny and with growing demands, in Ramallah and abroad, to make Barghouti’s fate part of any serious discussion about future Palestinian governance.
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