Frankly Speaking: The state of political prisoners in Israel
The recent taunting on camera of Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian political prisoner, by a far-right Israeli minister has sparked global condemnation and highlighted the alleged maltreatment of prisoners.
Riyadh - The recent taunting on camera of Marwan Barghouti, the prominent Palestinian political prisoner, by a far-right Israeli minister has been described by his son as reflective of the Palestinian people’s suffering and the oppression they have been through.
Arab Marwan Barghouti, Marwan’s eldest son, commented on this incident in the latest episode of "Frankly Speaking," the weekly current affairs program of Arab News.The edited clip did not show Marwan’s response to Ben-Gvir’s taunting.
For the first time in decades, the world saw moving pictures of a man many Palestinians regard as their most legitimate and unifying figure.
For Arab, the moment was both painful and symbolic.Marwan Barghouti has been imprisoned since 2002 after being convicted by an Israeli court of planning attacks that led to five civilians being killed.
He is serving five life sentences plus 40 years.
Arab said the scene captured not just one man’s suffering but the wider relationship between occupier and occupied.
Global condemnation was swift, reinforcing previous criticism of Israel’s alleged maltreatment of prisoners.The Palestinian Prisoners Club reported that some 17,000 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli authorities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem between Oct. 7, 2023, and May this year.
As of June 8, according to the Israeli rights organization HaMoked, 10,400 were being detained in Israeli jails, with 3,562 under so-called administrative detention, held indefinitely without charge.Among those arrested between Oct. 7, 2023 and January this year were 1,055 children, of which 440 remain in jail.
Thousands more detainees have been rounded up in Gaza and taken to Israeli prisons, with limited information given to families about their condition or whereabouts.The UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric responded to the incident by stating that prisoners should be treated according to international law, respecting their inherent dignity.
The UN Human Rights Office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan called the footage "unacceptable" and expressed concern for Marwan’s life.
Raed Abu Al-Homs, head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, also raised concerns about Marwan's well-being.Despite these challenges, Marwan remains the most popular Palestinian political figure, with polls consistently showing him far ahead of PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leaders despite his long absence.
His eldest son, Arab, sees his father as a unifying figure not only for the Palestinian people but also within Fatah.
While there is speculation that some fear Marwan’s release would threaten the position of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Arab dismissed this notion.Arab expressed his desire to live in a Palestine where children are not worried about their future and can live in safety and security.
He emphasized the need for international support and regional cooperation to ensure the realization of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state that secures freedom and living with dignity for all Palestinians.
Arab Marwan Barghouti, Marwan’s eldest son, commented on this incident in the latest episode of "Frankly Speaking," the weekly current affairs program of Arab News.The edited clip did not show Marwan’s response to Ben-Gvir’s taunting.
For the first time in decades, the world saw moving pictures of a man many Palestinians regard as their most legitimate and unifying figure.
For Arab, the moment was both painful and symbolic.Marwan Barghouti has been imprisoned since 2002 after being convicted by an Israeli court of planning attacks that led to five civilians being killed.
He is serving five life sentences plus 40 years.
Arab said the scene captured not just one man’s suffering but the wider relationship between occupier and occupied.
Global condemnation was swift, reinforcing previous criticism of Israel’s alleged maltreatment of prisoners.The Palestinian Prisoners Club reported that some 17,000 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli authorities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem between Oct. 7, 2023, and May this year.
As of June 8, according to the Israeli rights organization HaMoked, 10,400 were being detained in Israeli jails, with 3,562 under so-called administrative detention, held indefinitely without charge.Among those arrested between Oct. 7, 2023 and January this year were 1,055 children, of which 440 remain in jail.
Thousands more detainees have been rounded up in Gaza and taken to Israeli prisons, with limited information given to families about their condition or whereabouts.The UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric responded to the incident by stating that prisoners should be treated according to international law, respecting their inherent dignity.
The UN Human Rights Office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan called the footage "unacceptable" and expressed concern for Marwan’s life.
Raed Abu Al-Homs, head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, also raised concerns about Marwan's well-being.Despite these challenges, Marwan remains the most popular Palestinian political figure, with polls consistently showing him far ahead of PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leaders despite his long absence.
His eldest son, Arab, sees his father as a unifying figure not only for the Palestinian people but also within Fatah.
While there is speculation that some fear Marwan’s release would threaten the position of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Arab dismissed this notion.Arab expressed his desire to live in a Palestine where children are not worried about their future and can live in safety and security.
He emphasized the need for international support and regional cooperation to ensure the realization of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state that secures freedom and living with dignity for all Palestinians.
