UN condemns Itamar Ben Gvir for publishing video taunting Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti, calling it a violation of human rights and human dignity
UN condemns Itamar Ben Gvir for sharing a controversial video in which he confronts jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, calling the act an “attack on human dignity.”
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The United Nations Human Rights Office on Tuesday strongly criticised Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, after he released footage showing him taunting Barghouti inside his prison cell.
The video, posted online last Friday, has sparked widespread backlash from human rights advocates and international observers.
Speaking in Geneva, UN Human Rights Office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said:
“The minister’s behaviour and the publication of the footage constitute an attack on Barghouti’s dignity. International law requires that all those in detention be treated humanely, with dignity, and their human rights respected and protected.”
Al-Kheetan further warned that such public displays by senior officials “may encourage violence against Palestinian detainees” and erode accountability within the Israeli prison system.
Barghouti, now in his 60s, was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Israeli court in 2004 on multiple murder charges.
While Israel regards him as a terrorist, many Palestinians view him as a resistance icon and potential future leader. He’s often referred to by supporters as the “Palestinian Mandela.”
Despite his imprisonment, Barghouti regularly tops Palestinian opinion polls and is seen as a unifying figure across political factions.
Ben Gvir, known for his provocative statements and hardline stance against Palestinians, has frequently drawn criticism from rights organisations and international bodies.
His appearance in Barghouti’s cell — coupled with the deliberate sharing of the video — is being interpreted as a deliberate provocation at a time of heightened regional tensions.
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The UN’s condemnation adds to a growing international outcry over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody and raises concerns about political interference in prison systems.
