Footage of Marwan Barghouti eating in his prison cell. Photo: Screenshot.

JNS.org – Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan revealed on Sunday that jailed terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who has been leading a hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners, has been caught secretly eating.

A video released by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) shows security camera recordings of Barghouti eating cookies and salted snacks in the toilet stall of his cell during the hunger strike.

“This hunger strike was never about the conditions of the convicted terrorists, which meet international standards,” Erdan said. “It is about advancing Marwan Barghouti’s political ambitions to replace Abu Mazen (Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas).”

Erdan added, “Barghouti is a murderer and hypocrite who urged his fellow prisoners to strike and suffer while he ate behind their backs.”

Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah on Sunday, Barghouti’s wife — Fadwa Barghouti — claimed the recording of her husband was fabricated and that the footage would only strengthen Palestinian prisoners’ resolve.

“The prisoners are familiar with Israel’s lies and games, and the video they released signals the beginning of [Israel’s] fall,” she said.

An unidentified IPS official told Israel’s Channel 2 on Monday the videos of Barghouti were obtained as part of an IPS plan to tempt the strike leaders to eat by placing food in their cells.

During a similar hunger strike launched by Palestinian prisoners in 2004, Barghouti was also filmed secretly eating.