Arabic version: مروان البرغوثي يواجه اعتداءات عنيفة في السجون الإسرائيلية

Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has faced a series of violent assaults in Israeli jails in recent weeks, raising new concerns that his life may be at risk. According to Al Jazeera, his lawyer Ben Marmarelli reported that Barghouti, who has been serving a life sentence imposed by Israel since 2002, had been subjected to three assaults over March and April, indicating a pattern of escalating violations.

On April 8, Barghouti was left to bleed after being severely beaten in Ganot Prison, with requests for medical attention denied. Earlier, on March 25, he was assaulted while being transferred from Megiddo Prison, where guards allegedly stormed his cell with a dog, forcing him to lie on the floor and then the dog repeatedly attacked him.

The “Free Marwan” international campaign has condemned these assaults, emphasizing that Barghouti has faced new brutal assaults while held in solitary confinement. Marmarelli described the conditions during his visit as harsh and inhumane, stating that he and his client had been forced to shout through the glass to communicate.

Despite the brutal conditions of his captivity, Barghouti was described as sharp-minded, focused, and fully engaged in following events outside the prison walls. He is recognized as a significant political figure who could potentially unite various Palestinian factions in the pursuit of statehood. Barghouti is currently serving five life sentences related to alleged attacks during the second Intifada.

The situation surrounding Barghouti has drawn attention, particularly in light of a new Israeli law that allows for the one-sided use of the death penalty targeting Palestinians. This development has raised fears of a mass execution of captives held on terror charges in Israeli prisons, further complicating the already tense dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.