Nizar Khalil Muhammad Banat (Abu Kifah; 1978 – 24 June 2021) was a Palestinian political activist and human rights defender. He was one of the most prominent activists opposing the

Palestinian National Authority The Palestinian Authority (PA), officially known as the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), is the Fatah-controlled government body that exercises partial civil control over the Palestinian enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank as a c ...

(PA), criticizing its policies and officials, whom he described as corrupt. Banat was the head of the Freedom and Dignity List. He was beaten to death by a squad of PA security forces, who arrested him from his home.

Activism and Palestinian Authority response

He is best known for his anti-government videos that he posted on social media, addressing corruption and human rights violations.

Amira Hass Amira Hass (; born 28 June 1956) is an Israeli journalist and author, mostly known for her columns in the daily newspaper ''Haaretz'' covering Palestinian affairs in Gaza and the West Bank, where she has lived for almost thirty years. Biogra ...

and Jack Khoury, writing in ''

Haaretz ''Haaretz'' (; originally ''Ḥadshot Haaretz'' – , , ) is an List of newspapers in Israel, Israeli newspaper. It was founded in 1918, making it the longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel. The paper is published in Hebrew lan ...

'', indicate that Banat not only criticized Abbas' government, but also Abbas' opponent

Mohammed Dahlan Mohammad Yusuf Dahlan (, also known by the '' kunya'' Abu Fadi (), born 29 September 1961) is a Palestinian politician. Arrested by Israel for being involved with the Fatah Hawksthe Fatah youth movementhe subsequently helped in negotiations ...

, whose supporters are linked in intelligence circles. The PA arrested him several times on charges of insulting national sentiment, assaulting the PA, and inciting strife against the PA on Facebook. His house was attacked by security elements after he called on the European Union to cut aid to the PA, due to the postponement of the 2021 Palestinian legislative elections, a process denounced by the European Union on 2 May 2021 on its official account on Twitter. "The Union Commission in Palestine is following with concern the attack nthe home of activist Nizar Banat was targeted in the town of Dura, in the southern West Bank. Violence against politicians and human rights defenders is unacceptable", the tweet reads.

Death

On 24 June 2021, at about 3:30 a.m. a

Palestinian Preventive Security The Palestinian Preventive Security (PPS; ), also known as Preventive Security Force (PSF; ) or Preventive Security Service (PSS), is one of the security organs of the State of Palestine. It was established in 1994 by president Yasser Arafat i ...

force stormed his house in the Hebron Governorate in the southern

West Bank The West Bank is located on the western bank of the Jordan River and is the larger of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the Gaza Strip) that make up the State of Palestine. A landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...

, severely beat him and then arrested him. At 6:45 a.m., the

Palestinian Authority The Palestinian Authority (PA), officially known as the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), is the Fatah-controlled government body that exercises partial civil control over the Palestinian enclaves in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, ...

officially announced his death. His family accused the PA of assassinating him with premeditation.

International feedback

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

: The European Union issued a statement saying, "Shocked and saddened by the death of activist and former legislative candidate Nizar Banat, following his arrest by Palestinian security forces last night. Our condolences to his family and loved ones. A full, independent and transparent investigation must be conducted immediately." *

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

: State Department spokesman

Ned Price Edward Price (born November 22, 1982) is an American diplomat, political advisor and former intelligence officer who served as the deputy to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2024 to 2025. In this role, he is considered a D ...

said the United States was "deeply disturbed by the death of Palestinian activist Nizar Banat and the information reported regarding the circumstances of his death." "We have serious concerns about the restrictions imposed by the Palestinian Authority on Palestinians' exercise of freedom of expression and the harassment of activists and civil society organizations", Price added.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banat, Nizar 1978 births 2021 deaths Palestinian human rights activists People from Hebron People who died in police custody Anti-corruption activists Prisoners and detainees of the Palestinian National Authority

Activism and Palestinian Authority response

Death

International feedback

See also

References