1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

Israel is our ally. Two aspects of allyship are supporting each other and standing up for what is right when one or the other takes improper actions. Our silence regarding Israel's abuse of Palestinian prisoners is as condemnable as the abuse itself. Mr Barghouti is not the only victim of anti-prisoner violence. Many prisoners who were released at part of ceasefire agreements showed signs of malnutrition and physical abuse. We, as a nation which upholds democratic principles such as legal justice and the rule of law, are duty-bound to call Israel to task and hold them, as a democratic state, to task on the same. Israel's abuse of Palestinians in their prisons, and our silence, are shameful and do injury to our democratic ideals. Say something. "Marwan Barghouti brutally assaulted in Israeli prison, family told" by Lubna Masarwa 05 Dec 2025 https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/marwan-barghouti-brutally-assaulted-israeli-prison-family-told "The account passed to them claimed that part of Barghouti’s ear had be en cut off, and that his ribs, fingers and teeth were broken during repeated rounds of beatings." Marwan ed’ my dad, cut off part of his ear by Noam Lehmann 5 Dec Barghouti’s son: Released prisoner said guards ‘physically shatter 2025 www.timesofisrael.com Qassam Barghouti, son of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, says on Facebook that he received this morning a call ertainment.” eaking his ribs and teeth and cutting off part of one ear, “for ent telling him Marwan’s Israeli guards “physically shattered” him, br