Palestine slams Israeli minister's threat against Fatah leader as 'organized state terrorism'

Palestine called a threat by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir directed against senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti during a visit to Ganot Prison in central Israel an “unprecedented provocation and organized state terrorism.”

In a statement Friday on the US social media company X’s platform, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the incident “in the strongest terms,” saying it falls within the framework of the crimes of “genocide, displacement and annexation faced by the prisoners and our people.”

The ministry said it holds the Israeli government fully and directly responsible for the lives of Barghouti and all prisoners, demanding “urgent international intervention” to protect them.

It added that it will take the threat seriously and will follow up with the International Red Cross, relevant states, the international community and specialized organizations and councils.

On Thursday during a visit to Ganot Prison, accompanied by Israel Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yacobi, Ben-Gvir was heard telling Barghouti: “Anyone who messes with Israel, who murders our children, who murders our women -- we will eliminate them. You need to know this,” said Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

Israel’s Channel 12 broadcast a video clip of Ben-Gvir’s provocative visit to the prison, which was formerly known as Ramon and Nafha prisons. In the footage, Barghouti appeared frail and in poor health. The channel reported that the minister’s visit was intended to oversee stricter conditions for Palestinian prisoners.

Barghouti, 66, a prominent Fatah politician and leader, participated in the First Intifada in 1987 and emerged as a leading figure in the Second Intifada in 2000. Israel arrested him in 2002 and sentenced him to five life terms, accusing him of responsibility for attacks carried out by armed groups affiliated with Fatah which resulted in the deaths and injuries of Israelis.