The Commission of Detainees & Ex-Detainee Affairs, a Palestinian prisoner rights organization, and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club reported in statements on Oct. 28 that Israeli prison staff have brutally assaulted Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian political leader and member of the Central Committee of Fatah.

During a visit to Megiddo prison, Barghouti's lawyer learned of the apparent assault, which took place Sept. 9 in a solitary confinement cell. The attack led to injuries to his head, ribs, and arms, resulting in bleeding from his right ear and severe pain in his upper body. The report says that Barghouti has struggled with motor function and suffered from ear infections due to being denied medical assistance. In the past year, Barghouti had already been assaulted twice. He has been held in solitary confinement since the start of the Gaza war.

The Israel Prison Service stated to Agence France-Presse: "Since October 7, Barghouti has petitioned twice regarding claims of mistreatment in prison. The court has examined every one of his claims and concluded that there has been no violation of the law by IPS. Nonetheless, prisoners and detainees have the right to file a complaint that will be fully examined and addressed by official authorities."

The Palestinian prisoner rights groups have called on international organizations to protect Barghouti and other detainees within the prison. The groups say that more than half of the 9,000 Palestinians currently detained in Israeli prisons were arrested since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.

Barghouti was arrested in 2002 by Israel and sentenced to five life sentences for deaths that occurred during the Second Intifada that began in 2000. He refused to take part in legal proceedings as he denied the authority of the Israeli court, but could become a part of a hostage-prisoner exchange.

From Jurist, Oct. 29. Used with permission.

See our last reports on Marwan Barghouti and the Israeli detention state.