Palestinian militants protest over the death of freedom fighters | Captured West Bank News

Palestinian militant groups clashed in Ramallah in the West Bank on Sunday on Thursday. death of Nizar Banat, a courageous Palestinian Authority (PA) activist who died in PA prison.

Nizar Banat, a 43-year-old freedom activist from Hebron known on social media for his coverage of the PA scandal, died Thursday after a security forces seized his house and arrested him.

Stefanie Dekker of Al Jazeera, a reporter from Ramallah, said the fighting on Sunday between protesters seeking the resignation of PA President Mahmoud Abbas has led to a crackdown on the PA and Fatah, the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority.

“There was a small group of about 100 or more people who were singing against the Palestinian Authority,” Dekker said.

“You had another group on the side of the road… which is pro-Fatah, the party of the ruling elite, coming to join them and then the conflict broke out,” Dekker said.

Dekker of Al Jazeera said there was a “campaign” against journalists covering the protests on Sunday.

“We were surrounded by six people [people], I can only call them thugs, wanting to see our camera. We were not filming at the time. They forced us to look at our SMG car, ”he said.

“One of my friends had his cameras smashed. This has been happening for the past few days. ”

New demonstrations against Banat’s death also took place on Sunday in his hometown of Hebron and in Bethlehem, both in the West Bank.

Armored by Palestinian security forces fired tear gas and grenades at protesters in Bethlehem, sending many to flee.

According to preliminary investigations, the injuries revealed that Banat had been hit in the head, chest, neck, legs and arms, just one hour before his arrest and death, Samir Abu Zarzour said.

The Banat family claimed that security forces used him to spray pepper, beat him severely and dragged him to a car.

The PA has announced the opening of an inquiry into the death of Banat, but has done nothing to quell public outrage.

Following the news of his death on Thursday, protesters set fire to the city, closed the streets of the city center and clashed with violent police in Ramallah. Palestinians also sang against the PA on Friday at the Banat funeral in Hebron and after Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Opponents clashed with Palestinian security forces and pro-PA protesters in Ramallah on Saturday as hundreds tried to march to Abbas’s office.

Banat registered as a voter in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, which were held from May to Abbas he moved them forever.

Mkhaimar Abusada, an associate professor of political science at Al Azhar University in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that Abbas and PA-sponsored PAs around the world were facing pressure from Palestine due to corruption and dictatorship.

“Seeing so many Palestinians protesting against the Palestinian Authority, chanting boldly against President Abbas calling for his removal and expulsion, has never happened,” he said.

‘Shame’

Shawan Jabareen, the head of the Al Haq human rights group, said the protests between Palestinians who protested in the streets on Sunday were “disgraceful” – especially when many Palestinians lost interest in joining the 11-day-long Israeli bombing in Gaza. Strip in May to force the expulsion of Palestinians from East Jerusalem.

“Right now you see the Palestinians divided again,” he told Al Jazeera.

To be honest with you, I’m worried about the people here. ”

Palestinians carry placards depicting human rights activist Nizar Banat during a protest rally in Hebron, West Bank [Mosab Shawer/AFP]

Jabareen said most of the uniformed men who attacked reporters on Sunday were members of the security forces.

“They are not ordinary people. They are members of the security forces, “Jabareen said.

Fadi Quran, a freedom fighter and activist for the Avaaz group, was at a rally on Sunday and said PA “bandits” attacked protesters and journalists and harassed women at the rally.

“It is a tragic and traumatic event, because they are afraid that the military will support Mahmoud Abbas and the PA, who are always allied with them and oppressing the Palestinian people,” he said.

The PA links with Israel on security and safety issues.

“People should not see Israel and the PA as different things, the PA works together,” the Quran said.

Meanwhile, Nasri Abu Jaish, PA’s minister of labor and a representative of the People’s Party in the government, has resigned on Sunday, a member of his party said.

The left Palestinian People’s Party left the Fatah PA-led government for “disrespecting the rule of law and human rights”, said party member Issam Abu Bakr.