Latest news with #psychologicalterrorism
UAE Moments
3 days ago
- Politics
- UAE Moments
Marwan Barghouti Seen on Video for the First Time in Years
Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has been seen for the first time in years in a newly released video. The footage shows the far-left Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visiting Barghouti's solitary confinement cell and delivering a menacing warning: 'You will not win. Whoever targets the people of Israel … will be erased.' The brief but intense clip captured Barghouti looking visibly frail and unrecognizable, dressed in a plain white T-shirt and surrounded by cameras and prison guards. The release of the footage has sparked widespread condemnation. Hussein Al-Sheikh, Vice President of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, condemned the act as 'psychological, moral and physical terrorism.' Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry labeled Ben-Gvir's actions as 'organized state terrorism' and demanded urgent intervention from international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. Barghouti's wife, Fadwa, voiced her anguish, stating she could barely recognize her husband in the video: 'I didn't recognise you or your features, but you remain free despite everything.' She highlighted his physical decline after spending years in solitary confinement and reiterated his unbroken spirit: 'the shackles are on your hands, but I know your spirit and determination … you will remain free.' As a senior Fatah figure and widely popular Palestinian leader—often compared to Nelson Mandela—Barghouti remains a potential successor to President Mahmoud Abbas. Despite being sentenced in 2004 to five life terms, a conviction he denies, his release continues to be a key point in hostage negotiations. This article was previously published on bahrainmoments. To see the original article, click here
Al Arabiya
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Father of Israeli hostage ‘surprised' that Israel, US not on the same page
Ruby Chen, father of an Israeli hostage who has been in captivity in Gaza for the last 669 days, shared in an episode of W News, presented by Leigh-Ann Gerrans, that his family feels like collateral damage in a much bigger issue. His 19-year-old dual Israeli-American son, Itay Chen, was serving in the Israeli military on the Gaza border when he went missing on Oct. 7, 2023. To this day, Chen said, Hamas has not acknowledged whether his son is in their possession or given any updates on his physical health. He called it 'lowest type of psychological terrorism that any parent can endure.' Gerrans was also joined by Dr. Ghassan al-Khatib who said that the conflict in Gaza can end only after Hamas returns the hostages, Israel returns all Palestinian prisoners and ends its occupation of Gaza and West Bank. He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doubling down on Gaza in his attempts of dealing with internal crisis in Israel. Both al-Khatib and Chen agreed that the international community needs to intervene to bring an end to the conflict. 'The only way to move things in the right direction is serious pressures from the Big Brothers of Israel, European countries and the United States, is to convince Israel that the use of force and the violation of the basic human rights of the Palestinians is not going to bring them closer to peace and security,' al-Khatib told Al Arabiya English. Chen said the international community in the EU and US needs to organize a summit that brings together both parties and says, 'nobody leaves until we have a deal done.' 'We are all suffering, including the Palestinian people in Gaza that have been used as human shields from a terrorist organization that are using them and see benefit even in the suffering and starvation,' Chen said. He added that there is food in Gaza, but it does not get to those it needs to get to. On Saturday, US envoy Steve Witkoff met with families of Israeli hostages in Gaza, a meeting which Chen said lasted almost three hours. '[Witkoff] shared with us that his plan [to end the conflict] is based on two components – ceasefire and getting all the hostages out in one shot,' Chen shared. When asked about Netanyahu's meeting with senior security officials to finalize a new strategy for the 22-month war in Gaza – with media reporting he favored a complete military takeover of the Palestinian territory – Chen said his family was 'a little surprised.' 'I have to say it is a bit confusing because we understood that the United States and Israel are on the same page,' he said. He reiterated the need for the international community to step in because it was unclear when the last hostage will be released from captivity or when the humanitarian aid flow and rehabilitation of Gaza would begin. 'We are all children of god, we all walk this planet together and I don't think there should be competition on pain,' he said.
