Palestinian official accuses Israel of trying to assassinate jailed Fatah leader Barghouti

Raed Abu Al-Hims, head of the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, accused Israel on Wednesday of attempting to assassinate jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti. Abu Al-Hims stated that Barghouti has been subjected to "a series of brutal assaults aimed at eliminating and assassinating him," including a recent incident where prison guards allegedly fired rubber bullets at him after storming his cell. Barghouti's wife, Fadwa Barghouti, corroborated that her husband was struck by a rubber bullet, causing injury. Abu Al-Hims called for urgent international and regional intervention to protect Barghouti and other Palestinian prisoners, alleging that Israel's actions demonstrate "a clear plan to eliminate him" and constitute "retaliatory policies" that violate international law. Barghouti has been imprisoned since 2002, serving five life sentences for murder and attempted murder.