As of: 27.06.2021 10:53 a.m.
After the violent death of human rights activist Nizar Banat, hundreds of people again took to the streets against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank yesterday. There were clashes with security forces.
With information from Benjamin Hammer,
ARD studio Tel Aviv
The frustration erupted on the streets of Ramallah yesterday. The frustration of many Palestinians with their own leadership. Hundreds of people demonstrated against the death of human rights activist Nizar Banat for the third day in a row. He had repeatedly accused the Palestinian leadership of corruption. He was reportedly beaten and killed on Thursday shortly after his arrest by Palestinian security forces in Hebron. The authorities are now investigating the case.
There were violent clashes with security forces at the demonstration in Ramallah. After demonstrators threw stones, the security forces used tear gas, as a photographer from the AFP news agency reported. Video recordings also show civilian security forces attacking peaceful demonstrators and journalists with sticks.
Growing dissatisfaction with Abbas
For more than 15 years, President Mahmut Abbas and his national authority have not been democratically legitimized. Just weeks ago he had postponed a parliamentary election indefinitely. The 43-year-old Nizar Banat had also registered as a candidate for this election. He was known for his videos published on the online network Facebook, in which he accused the national authority of corruption.
Protesters hold up a picture of the killed government critic Nizar Banat. His family accused the security forces of beating him to death with batons.
Image: AP
Governor Jibrin al-Bakri said on Thursday that after his arrest, Banat’s “health deteriorated” and that he was immediately taken to a hospital “where he was pronounced dead.” Less than an hour passed between Banat’s arrest and his death, as doctor Samir Abu Sarsur said after the autopsy. He spoke of injuries to the head, chest, neck, legs and hands. Banat was buried on Friday and thousands of people attended his funeral procession.
Countries like Israel, but also Germany and the USA are in a difficult diplomatic situation: They work with the Palestinian Authority and its security forces, but their support from the Palestinian population is decreasing. The late activist Banat had also asked the EU to stop funding the autonomy.
Clashes in Ramallah following the death of an activist
Benjamin Hammer, ARD Tel Aviv, June 27th, 2021 9:47 am