Different Palestinian groups clash over the death of the activist Occupied West Bank News

Various Palestinian groups clashed on Sunday in the West Bank-occupied city of Ramallah, Nizar Banat, a horrific critic of the Palestinian Authority (PA) who died in PA custody on the fourth day of the protest.

Nizar Banat, a 43-year-old Hebron activist known for his videos on social media alleging PA corruption, died Thursday after security forces attacked the house and violently arrested him.

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, Ramallah reported, clashes broke out on Sunday, with protesters calling for the removal of PA President Mahmoud Abbas and opposition groups in favor of the Palestinian Authority’s Abbas party and pro-Fatah supporters.

“There was a small crowd of about 100 people shouting against the Palestinian Authority,” Dekker said.

“You had another crowd walking down the street … Fatah supporters, the government’s elite party, came to join them and then there were clashes,” Dekker said.

Al Jazeera’s Dekker said Sunday was a “joint campaign” against the media covering the protests.

“Six of us were surrounded [people]I can really call them rebels who demand to see our camera. We didn’t shoot at the time. They really forced us to lower the focus to our SMG truck, ”he said.

“Another colleague’s friend had his cameras smashed. That’s been happening for the last two days. “

New protests against Banat’s death were also held on Sunday in his hometown of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.

According to the initial autopsy, Banat suffered blows to the head, chest, neck, legs and hands, less than an hour after his arrest and death, said pathologist Samir Abu Zarzour.

Banat’s family said security forces used pepper spray on him, beat him and dragged him into a vehicle.

The PA has announced that it will open an investigation into Banat’s death, but has done nothing to calm the anger on the street.

Banat ran as a candidate in the Palestinian parliamentary elections until Abbas, who was scheduled for May, was indefinitely postponed.

Mkhaimar Abusada, an associate professor of political science at Al Azhar University in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that Abbas and the internationally backed PA are increasingly reacting to perceived corruption and authoritarianism by Palestinians.

“Seeing these masses of Palestinian protesters protesting against the Palestinian Authority, directly demanding the removal and expulsion of President Abbas, is unprecedented,” he said.

‘Pena’

Shawan Jabareen, director of the rights group Al Haq, said the clashes between Palestinian rivals on the streets on Sunday were “shameful” – especially after many Palestinians joined the differences after the 11-day bombing of Israel’s Gaza Strip. May and forced Palestinians to expel occupied East Jerusalem.

“At the moment you see the Palestinians being divided again,” he told Al Jazeera.

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

Palestinians hold placards depicting human rights activist Nizar Banat in protest in his hometown of Hebron in the occupied West Bank [Mosab Shawer/AFP]

Jabareen said many of the men in clothing who attacked journalists on Sunday were members of the security forces.

“They’re not civilians. They are members of security, ”Jabareen said.

Fadi Quran, the top campaigner of the Avaaz activist group, was in protest on Sunday and also said the PA “rebels” attacked protesters and journalists and women for sexual harassment at the rally.

“What has happened is very dangerous and painful because they are afraid of the public mobilization against Mahmoud Abbas and PA, who are constantly collaborating with the occupation and oppressing the Palestinian people,” he said.

PA coordinates with Israel on security and civil matters.

“People should not see Israel and PA as separate entities, PA is a subcontract of occupation as an organ,” the Quran said.

Meanwhile, PA Labor Minister Nasri Abu Jaish and a representative of the ruling People’s Party resigned on Sunday, a member of his party said.

The left-wing Palestinian People’s Party was ousted from the PA government led by Fatah for “lack of respect for the law and public freedoms,” said party member Issam Abu Bakr.