Israeli prison authorities have recently intensified the solitary confinement of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti at Ganot Prison, where he has been held in isolation since November 2023, according to a statement from his office reported by Anadolu.
Barghouti has been incarcerated in Israeli prisons since 2002, following years of legal pursuit, and has endured extended periods of solitary confinement alongside other notable Palestinian inmates.
His office alleges that Israeli authorities have repeatedly transferred Barghouti between solitary confinement units in multiple prisons, characterizing these actions as systematic arbitrary measures targeting the Fatah leader since the onset of Israel’s Gaza war in October 2023.
The statement further notes that Israeli prison authorities have imposed additional restrictions on his confinement.
Palestinian and Israeli rights reports indicate that harsher solitary confinement can involve isolation from fellow detainees, repeated transfers across prisons and wings, restrictions on communication with lawyers and family members, and reduced access to medical care and basic necessities.
Anadolu has not independently confirmed that all of these measures are presently being applied to Barghouti at Ganot Prison.
Meanwhile, Israel Army Radio reported on Tuesday that prison authorities added an extra two weeks of solitary confinement to Barghouti as a penalty following a disciplinary sanction issued the previous week.
It added that Barghouti’s lawyer filed an appeal with Israeli courts after being denied recent meetings, and that the earliest visit offered by prison authorities was scheduled for September.
READ: Israel Places Detained Gaza Hospital Director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya in Solitary Confinement
On February 18, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir entered Barghouti’s prison cell and threatened to kill him, according to video footage circulated by Israeli media.
Barghouti, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee and one of the movement’s most prominent figures, was arrested by Israel in April 2002 and is serving five life sentences after being convicted of murder and attempted murder. He remains widely popular among Palestinians.
Despite the recent release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners through exchange agreements — including the Gaza ceasefire deal that took effect on October 10 — Israel has declined to free Barghouti and several other high‑profile Palestinian detainees.
Violations against Palestinian prisoners have intensified alongside Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023.
READ: Marwan Barghouti Subjected to “Brutal” Assaults in Israeli Jail
More than 9,400 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, are currently detained in Israeli prisons, where they face torture, starvation, and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights groups.
