PA Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Thursday ordered the formation of a special commission of inquiry to investigate the death of Nizar Banat, a prominent anti-corruption activist from the Hebron area.
Banat, 44, a longtime critic of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, died during a raid by PA security officers on his home in the town of Dura. Banat’s relatives said about 25 security officers severely beat him with clubs and other objects while he was still asleep.
Some Palestinians compared his death to the gruesome killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018 by agents of the Saudi government.
The death of Banat triggered a wave of protests by many Palestinians, who accused the PA of “assassinating” the activist. In graphic photos that surfaced on social media, Banat appeared to have many bruises on his body.
During a demonstration organized by youth groups in Ramallah, protesters shouted slogans calling for the removal of Abbas from office. PA policemen used tear gas and clubs to disperse the protesters and prevent them from approaching his headquarters.
Similar protests took place in other West Bank towns, as well as the Gaza Strip.
PA security forces have arrested dozens of Palestinian political activists and social media users since Abbas’s decision in late April to call off the parliamentary and presidential elections, which were supposed to take place on May 22 and July 31, respectively.
Many of the detainees have been accused of affiliation with Hamas and ousted Fatah operative Mohammed Dahlan, an arch-rival of Abbas who is based in the United Arab Emirates. Others have been accused of “insulting” Abbas and other senior Palestinian figures on social media platforms.
PA Governor of Hebron Jibreen al-Bakri said in a statement that Banat’s health “deteriorated” during the raid on his home. Banat was rushed to the Hebron hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Bakri said the officers arrived at Banat’s home to arrest him in accordance with a warrant issued by the PA prosecutor-general.
The governor did not give any reason for the arrest.
“The Palestinian security forces did not come to arrest him,” said Hussein Banat, a cousin of the deceased activist. “They came to assassinate him.” He added that the raid took place around 3:30 a.m.
Another relative, Majdi Banat, said the beating lasted for eight minutes. “They blew up the door of the house with explosives,” he said. “It was a very brutal and violent raid.”
He added that Banat had received many threats from senior Palestinian officials because of his anti-corruption campaign.
“They told him you are wanted dead or alive,” the relative said. “Last May, they tried to kill him by shooting at his home.”
In the past few months, Banat posted several videos on Facebook in which he launched scathing attacks on Abbas and the PA leadership and accused them of being responsible for rampant corruption.
In a recent video, Banat denounced the Shtayyeh government over its handling of last week’s Pfizer vaccine exchange agreement with Israel. Under the terms of the agreement, Israel offered the Palestinians more than one million soon-to-expire vaccines enabling them to vaccinate sooner. In return, Israel would receive an identical number of doses purchased by the Palestinians and which are expected to arrive later this year.
Banat was planning to participate in the parliamentary elections as a candidate for a new list called Freedom and Dignity.
After Abbas called off the elections, Banat and his list called on the European Union to halt financial aid to the PA and launch an investigation into the “squandering of European taxpayer money.”
The unprecedented appeal to the EU drew strong condemnations from senior PA and Fatah officials. They accused Banat of “crossing a redline” by appealing to foreign parties to suspend financial aid to the PA.
Shortly after the appeal, unidentified gunmen attacked his house. No one was hurt. Banat hinted that “thugs” belonging to Abbas’s ruling Fatah faction were behind the shooting attack. He claimed that the assailants were escorted by PA security officers.
Banat’s wife, Um Kifah, said hours after she learned about the death of her husband: “Nizar is a ‘shahid’ (martyr); he used to tell the truth. My husband was not a thief and he was not corrupt. He always said that his campaign against corruption was aimed at ensuring a better future for our children. They killed one Nizar, but now they will get 1,000 Nizars.”
Mohammed Amru, a political activist and friend of Banat, said the incident was a “big crime” and a “turning point” in the relationship between the PA and the Palestinians.
“The Palestinian Authority has moved from arbitrary arrests to physical liquidation,” Amru said. “We hold President Abbas personally responsible.”
Several Palestinian human rights groups and political factions condemned the incident and demanded an immediate investigation.
The Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) said it looks “with great concern at the death of the activist Nizar Banat.”
The group said that according to testimonies of eyewitnesses and family members, Banat was beaten and sprayed with gas during his arrest.
“ICHR has begun investigating and collecting information about the death incident,” the group said. “Additionally, ICHR will participate in the autopsy through a forensic doctor delegated by the Commission. The results of the investigation will be announced immediately.”
Palestinian human rights activist Khaled al-Shouli denounced the death of Banat as a “crime against humanity” and called for referring the case to the International Criminal Court.
Hussein Khreisheh, former deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said the “execution of Nizar Banat reflects the state of panic and confusion in the Palestinian Authority.”