Twitter.com / Khaled Abu Toameh
A Palestinian human rights activist and vocal critic of the Palestinian Authority died in unclear circumstances after being arrested by Palestinian security forces in June. Nizar Banat was at his home near the West Bank city of Hebron during the early hours of the morning when security officials raided the property and detained him.
Close relatives of Banat who were in the house at the time allege that Banat was continuously beaten with iron bars and wooden batons after pepper spray was used. Banat was immediately taken to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead just 90 minutes after the initial raid. Banat had been a steadfast opponent of the Palestinian Authority, developing a large following on social media.
He had been particularly critical of Abbas’ policies in recent month and had denounced the PA’s security cooperation with Israel. Like many across Palestinian society, he was angry that internal elections had been indefinitely postponed.
On the day of his death, on 24th June, hundreds gathered to protest the Palestinian Authority in the administrative capital of Ramallah. Security forces fired tear gas in response as the protesters marched towards government buildings.
Findings of a PA committee of inquiry into Banat’s death have not been publicly released and no arrests have yet been reported.
