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UN slams Israeli minister for verbal assault on Palestinian prisoner Barghouti

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 3:44 PM

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has condemned Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for verbally assaulting Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian political leader imprisoned by Israel since 2002.

In a statement released Tuesday, the OHCHR criticized Ben-Gvir for confronting Barghouti in his prison cell, taunting him, and then posting the footage online.

The video of the visit shared on social media on Thursday, shows Ben-Gvir telling Barghouti, "You will not win. He who messes with the people of Israel ... we will wipe him out. You will not defeat us."

OHCHR spokesman Thameen al-Kheetan described the footage as unacceptable, stating, "The minister's behavior and the publication of the footage constitute an attack on Barghouti's dignity."

"International law requires that all those in detention be treated humanely, with dignity, and their human rights respected and protected," al-Kheetan emphasized.

Al-Kheetan further warned that the minister's actions "may encourage violence against Palestinian [abductees]" and facilitate human rights violations in Israeli prisons.

Ben-Gvir's actions were also condemned by Raed Abu al-Hummus, head of the Palestinian Prisoners' and Ex-Prisoners' Affairs Commission, who described them as a public threat and evidence of the far-right minister's longstanding incitement to violence against Palestinians.

"Ben Gvir has tortured prisoners in front of cameras, and he has many previous offenses filled with hatred and racism. For him to dare to attack a leader of the stature of Abu al-Qassam is a clear violation of all red lines, and we are concerned for his life," al-Hummus said on Thursday.

Barghouti, 66, is serving five life sentences for his role in Palestinian resistance efforts.

Barghouti commands widespread support among Palestinians and is seen as a potential leader capable of unifying divided factions. He is often referred to by his supporters as the "Palestinian Mandela."

His release has long been a demand of Palestinian resistance movements, particularly Hamas, and is perceived as a threat to the current leadership of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

In May 2024, senior PA officials, including Hussein al-Sheikh, the chief liaison with Israel, indicated to mediators that the party opposed Barghouti's release.

The Palestinian leader has been held in solitary confinement at Ganot prison in the occupied territories since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war on Gaza.

His family and supporters have expressed deep concern for his safety following Ben-Gvir's threats, saying that they fear Barghouti's execution as a result of the Israeli minister's aggressive conduct.