PLO accuses Israel of endangering life of Marwan Barghouti in prison

A senior official at the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) accused Israeli authorities of endangering the life of Marwan Barghouti in prison.

Barghouti, one the most prominent Palestinian political prisoners, was reportedly attacked by prison guards on Sunday.

Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of the PLO executive committee, said in a post on social media platform X that Barghouti was being exposed to "isolation, torture and attempts to coerce, humiliate and beat him, putting his life in danger".

Our heroic prisoners in the occupation prisons are exposed to the ugliest forms of torture, abuse, brutality and isolation, the latest of which is what the brother leader Marwan Barghouti is exposed to in terms of isolation, torture and attempts to coerce, humiliate and beat him,… https://t.co/XY9CxQVA8H
— حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) March 18, 2024

"We call on the international community, institutions and international organisations to intervene immediately and urgently in order to stop the repressive measures against our prisoners and our leaders in the occupation prisons, protect them, and release them immediately," al-Sheikh said.

Reports of the prison assault come amid a renewed push by mediators to find an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war on Gaza and swap prisoners, which could potentially include the release of Barghouti.

Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti (C) gestures before the start of deliberation at the Magistrate Court, Jerusalem, 25 January 2012 (Reuters)