Mystery call sparks concern over Marwan Barghouti’s condition

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs revealed on Friday deeply troubling details regarding the safety of imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, known as Abu al-Qassam, after his family received a suspicious and alarming phone call.

Family receives “terrifying” phone call

According to the commission, Barghouti’s family received a call from an “Israeli number,” during which the caller claimed to be a recently released prisoner.

The unidentified caller alleged that Barghouti had been subjected to a “brutal assault” by 'Israeli' prison guards, claiming that “part of his ear was cut,” and that he suffered broken ribs, fingers, and teeth following repeated rounds of torture and abuse.

Psychological warfare and intimidation

The commission said the call caused shock and panic within Barghouti’s family and among Palestinians. Efforts to call the number back were unsuccessful, raising further suspicion about the nature and motive behind the call.

It noted that there have been previous incidents of “threats, intimidation, and harassment targeting prisoners’ families,” describing the call as part of an ongoing campaign of psychological warfare.

Immediate action underway

The commission stressed that it is working intensively with Palestinian leadership and international organizations to determine Barghouti’s actual condition, holding the Israeli Occupation fully responsible for the safety of all Palestinian prisoners.