Ben Gvir visits Barghouti in prison; Palestinians, rights groups condemn

A video circulating on social media shows Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, visiting Marwan Barghouti inside a prison and delivering a blunt warning that those who oppose Israel will be wiped out. The 13-second clip, the first public images of Barghouti in years, has ignited a fresh wave of condemnation from Palestinian officials and human rights groups, who say the encounter underscores a broader pattern of intimidation and deteriorating conditions for Palestinian prisoners.

Barghouti, 66, has been in Israeli custody for more than two decades, serving five life sentences plus 40 years for involvement in attacks during the Second Intifada that killed several people. He is widely regarded among Palestinians as a unifying and highly popular figure, and his potential political return is frequently discussed in discussions of Palestinian leadership. In the video, Barghouti appears frail and speaks in a subdued manner as Ben Gvir delivers the message that anyone who harms Israel or its people will be eliminated, asserting that “you will not defeat us.”

The confrontation has drawn responses on multiple fronts. Palestinian officials and rights advocates...