Israeli prison guard shoots Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti in the leg, family says; prison service denies incident

The family of imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti revealed that he was shot in the leg by an Israeli prison guard with a rubber-coated bullet while in custody.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Fadwa Barghouti, his wife, said that a prison guard shot Barghouti in the leg last week, causing bleeding and a painful injury. She described the incident as part of what she called a pattern of ongoing assaults against him.

Barghouti’s son, Arab Barghouti, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the incident occurred at Ganot Prison in Israel’s Negev region and said his father had not received medical treatment for the injury.

According to the family, they learned of the alleged incident through Barghouti’s lawyer, Avigdor Feldman, who said in a letter to the Israel Prison Service that his client had reported being shot in the leg during a recent prison visit.

The Israel Prison Service rejected the allegations, describing them as “false and baseless.” It said its personnel operate in accordance with Israeli law and under judicial oversight.

Barghouti, 67, has been imprisoned by Israel since 2002. He is serving five life sentences after being convicted by an Israeli court of multiple counts of murder and involvement in attacks during the Second Intifada. Israel considers him responsible for directing or participating in terrorist attacks, while many Palestinians regard him as a national leader and political prisoner. His supporters often refer to him as the “Palestinian Mandela.”

In September 2025, Barghouti’s family said he was severely beaten during a prison transfer, resulting in broken ribs and a head injury.

The Arab League has called for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into repeated attacks against Barghouti and urged accountability if violations are confirmed.

Barghouti was re-elected to Fatah’s Central Committee in May 2026, receiving the highest number of votes, and remains one of the most prominent figures in Palestinian politics despite his continued imprisonment.

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