RAMALLAH: Prominent Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti’s son has said Israeli guards beat his father during a prison transfer last month, an accusation denied by Israel’s prison authorities.
“Eight guards started beating him up until he passed out,” Arab Barghouti told AFP on Wednesday, describing an incident he said took place on September 14.
Arab Barghouti said he only learnt of the attack after five other inmates who had been with his father were able to communicate with the outside world.
Barghouti, in his 60s, is serving multiple life sentences since 2002 for deadly attacks on Israelis.
A senior leader of Fatah party, he is often described by supporters as the “Palestinian Mandela.”
An Israel Prison Service spokesperson called the reports “fake,” saying the service “operates in accordance with the law, while ensuring the safety and health of all inmates.”
Arab Barghouti said the alleged assault happened while his father was being transferred from Ganot prison in the south to Megiddo in the north.
Israel’s Prison Service declined to share Barghouti’s current location.
Arab Barghouti said the guards responsible for his transfer were the ones who attacked Barghouti.
“He got some ribs broken and (the five other inmates) said that when he got to Megiddo prison, they were shocked that he could barely walk,” Arab said adding that his father “couldn’t walk for days” as a result.
Barghouti is among several high-profile inmates whose release Hamas sought during a recent prisoner exchange conducted under a US-brokered ceasefire deal.
In a video he shared on social media in August, Israel’s National Security Minister and far-right firebrand Itamar Ben Gvir was seen visiting Barghouti in jail.
“Whoever tries to attack the people of Israel, whoever tries to murder our children, whoever tries to murder our women, we will wipe them out,” Ben Gvir is seen telling a physically diminished and handcuffed Barghouti.