Overview
- The 13-second clip posted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shows him rebuking Marwan Barghouti and preventing him from speaking.
- At 66 years old, Barghouti appears visibly thinner and emaciated in the first widely circulated footage of the Fatah leader since his imprisonment over two decades ago.
- The Palestinian Authority issued a formal complaint accusing Israeli authorities of mistreating Barghouti by holding him in isolation and frequently moving him between facilities.
- As a symbol of Palestinian unity, Barghouti’s public display serves as a flashpoint that could inflame sentiments during ongoing Gaza and West Bank tensions.
- The video arrives during fierce debates in Israel over Gaza operations and ongoing hostage and ceasefire negotiations, heightening concerns over potential diplomatic fallout.