The European Left condemns the killing of Palestinian human rights activist Nizar Banat by the Palestinian Authority on 24 June 2021.
Nizar Banat was violently arrested and beaten by the Palestinian security forces and died in police detention a few hours later the same day. The European Left condemns his killing and demands a fast, independent, and transparent investigation to take place into this crime.
The killing of Nizar Banat shows a deteriorating situation in the West Bank with an escalation of violence, and crushing of dissent, by the authorities. There has been a rise in detentions. Nizar Banat had openly often and recently expressed his criticism of the corruption of the Palestinian Authority.
Popular reactions against the killing of Nizar Banat and against the PA have been widespread. The same day hundreds demonstrated in Ramallah with security forces firing tear gas at them to prevent them from reaching the PA headquarters. Especially Palestinian youth have been involved in pressuring against the killing, criticizing the PA, and for democracy and human rights. The European Left supports this struggle by the Palestinian youth.
These developments reflect the overall situation of continuing Israeli expansion in the West Bank and oppression of the Palestinian people, with the Palestinian Authority as collaborators of the Israeli government and acting as an agent of this oppression.
EL Middle East Working group
