UN Human Rights Office Condemns Israeli Minister for Assault on Palestinian Leader

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.”

Key Takeaways:

• The UN Human Rights Office has condemned Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for verbally assaulting Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian political leader imprisoned by Israel since 2002.
• Ben-Gvir was criticized for confronting Barghouti in his prison cell, taunting him, and posting the footage online, which OHCHR spokesman Thameen al-Kheetan described as an "attack on Barghouti's dignity."
• The OHCHR emphasized that international law requires that all those in detention be treated humanely, with dignity, and their human rights respected and protected.
• 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.
• Marwan Barghouti, 66, is serving five life sentences for his role in Palestinian resistance efforts and has been held in solitary confinement at Ganot prison in the occupied territories since October 7, 2023.
• Barghouti's release has long been a demand of Palestinian resistance movements, particularly Hamas, and is perceived as a threat to the current leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

Statistics:

• 2002: The year Marwan Barghouti was imprisoned by Israel.
• 66: The age of Marwan Barghouti at the time of the incident.
• 5 life sentences: The number of life sentences served by Marwan Barghouti for his role in Palestinian resistance efforts.
• October 7, 2023: The date when the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war on Gaza, resulting in Marwan Barghouti being held in solitary confinement at Ganot prison.

Sources:

• "UN Human Rights Office condemns Israeli minister for assault on Palestinian leader" (Press TV, 2022)