New report reveals details of Palestinian activist’s death in custody
A report by the Doha-based Al Jazeera broadcaster has revealed details of the murder of a Palestinian political activist and human rights defender at the hands of Palestinian security forces.
Nizar Banat, who was an outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s leadership, died in June 2021 shortly after security forces stormed his home in the West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron), beat him violently and dragged him away.
Quoting Dr. Samir Abu Zaarour, who was in charge of Banat’s autopsy, Al Jazeera reported on Friday that the activist’s death was due to inhaling pepper gas.
It added that the traces of 42 blows were observed on the victim's body, which was covered by bruises and scratches.
The report also published a leaked document from Palestinian Attorney General Akram al-Khatib, who had issued an order for Banat’s arrest by al-Khalil police, not the security forces.
The day before Banat's assassination, the Palestinian security forces were instructed to detain a list of 15 people, known as the "target bank,” it added.
An eyewitness, Mohammad Banat, said the violent raid was conducted by 14 armed Palestinian forces, one of whom hit Nizar on the head with an iron bar and punched and kicked him.
Hossein Banat, another witness, said that Nizar fell on his knee after being beaten and that he was pepper spray on his face.
The Palestinian officers hit Nizar’s head against the wall until he lost his consciousness, and then took him into a car, according to Hossein Banat.
Meanwhile a Palestinian newspaper said that the PA has tried over the past few days and even asked Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to prevent the released of Al Jazeera’s report.
In videos he had posted on social media, Banat had repeatedly criticized the Palestinian Authority for corruption and its security coordination with the Israeli military in the West Bank.
He had also blasted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over a short-lived COVID-19 vaccine exchange with the Israeli regime, and slammed his decision to postpone a Palestinian election in May 2021, for which he had registered as a parliamentary candidate.
Banat's death was met with anger on the streets of the West Bank, as well as criticism from human rights organizations and Palestinian factions, which called for an independent probe.
Many have described Banat as the "Palestinian Khashoggi" - a reference to the Saudi dissident journalist assassinated in Turkey in 2018 by agents of the Riyadh regime.
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