Palestinian Authority accuses Ben-Gvir of provocation after words of warning issued to Barghouti
Reports have indicated that Hamas demanded the release of Barghouti throughout ceasefire-hostage deal negotiations, hoping that such a move would reignite support for Hamas.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke with Marwan Barghouti in prison on Thursday and warned, “Whoever messes with Israel – we will wipe him out.”
“You will not defeat us, whoever messes with the people of Israel, whoever murders our children and women – we will wipe him out,” Ben-Gvir told him. “You need to know this, it’s been like this throughout history.”
The Palestinian Authority released a complaint following Ben-Gvir’s comments, claiming that his comments constituted as “state terrorism.”
“The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry condemns the raid by extremist Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on the cell of commander Marwan al-Barghouti, directly threatening him. This is an unprecedented provocation and organized state terrorism,” the statement read.
Barghouti, often referred to as the “Palestinian Mandela,” has long been considered a unifying figure among Palestinians, according to The Media Line.
Reports have indicated that Hamas demanded the release of Barghouti throughout ceasefire-hostage deal negotiations, hoping that such a move would reignite support for Hamas.
Jailed Fatah official Marwan Barghouti (credit: REUTERS)
Who is Marwan Barghouti?
Barghouti was sentenced in 2004 to five life sentences for his role in orchestrating attacks that killed Israelis.
He helped establish Tanzim, the military faction of Fatah, in the 1980s.
This is a developing story.
