By Annisa Essack
28:06:2021

Protests against the Palestinian Authority over the death of Palestinian activist Nizar Banat continued for the third day. Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in Ramallah, the seat of government for the PA, on Saturday, three days after Banat died in PA custody. The protests followed a very violent early morning raid on his home and arrest.

Protesters on Saturday also demonstrated in Hebron. In addition, protests against the PA and its security services were held on Friday throughout the West Bank.

Protesters carried Palestinian flags and posters of Banat and called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to quit. “The people want to overthrow the regime,” they chanted, as well as: “step down, Abbas!”

The PA has clamped down on public and press freedoms, but in whose interests.

Radio Islam International spoke to Palestinian journalist Khalid Amayrah, based in Dura, near Hebron, who said that the atmosphere is tense, particularly between Nizar Banat’s family and the PA.

During a press conference called by the family, they rejected the committee set up by the PA to investigate the murder of Banat, saying that the PA “couldn’t be foe and judge at the same time.”

Amayrah says that most Palestinians condemned the killing of Banat and hold the PA responsible for his murder. However, Mahmoud Abbas and other PA leaders have been silent and reticent as they are embarrassed and plagued by the incident.

According to Amayrah, the Banat family demands an international committee to investigate if the Palestinian Authority ordered the arrest and killing of the political critic. He added that this is the most significant political crime since the creation of the PA in 1993.

He was asked if the Palestinians would be angered enough to overthrow the PA, to which he responded, “The Israelis, not the PA, have the ultimate say whether the PA should survive or not. The PA itself is more than an obsequious slave working for the Israelis. The PA is itself a security enterprise for the Israelis.” He added that the PA was responsible to the Israelis and not the Palestinians.

In Dura, the PA has ordered its security personnel off the streets. Still, the grief, resentment and anger have not supposed in Banat’s home town.

Amayrah says that the post-Banat era will not be the same as the pre-Banat period.

[Listen] to the podcast of the interview – Your World Today