August 22, 2021
PCHR Condemns Palestinian Security Services’ Use of Force Against Peaceful Protest in Ramallah
PCHR Condemns Palestinian Security Services’ Use of Force Against Peaceful Protest in Ramallah

Ref: 111/2021Date: 22 August 2021Time: 10:00Palestinian Security Services in Ramallah used force to break a peaceful protest organized by the popular movement and human rights organizations to demand accountability for the murder of Nizar Banat, a Palestinian political activist who was killed by security forces on 24 June during his arrest in Hebron. At the protest, Palestinian security forces arrested 16 participants, including human rights activists and journalists, allegedly for non-licensed assembly. The security forces also assaulted two participants; one was transported to hospital for treatment.PCHR calls upon security services to respect the citizenry’s right to peaceful assembly and to provide them with protection. PCHR also calls upon the Palestinian government to take the necessary measures to end these violations and to enforce respect for public freedoms and journalistic freedoms as enrichened in the Palestinian constitution and in accordance with international human rights standards.According to PCHR documentation, at approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 21 August 2021, the popular movement, and representatives of human rights organizations organized a peaceful protest on al-Manara roundabout in Ramallah, to demand the Palestinian government hold the murderers of Nizar Bana accountable. In response, a large force of the Palestinian security services arrived at al-Manara and surrounded the protestors, arresting several ones including human rights activists and journalists: Jehad Abdo; Yusuf Sharqawy; Ibrahim Abu-Hajla; Hamza Zbidat; Imad al-Barghouthi; Mo’een al-Barghouthi; Omar Assaf; Obay Essmat al-Aboudy; Salem Qatsh; Bassem al-Qawasmy; Obada Bassam al-Qawasmy; Mousa Abu-Shrar; Yusef Mamdouh Amr; Ghassan al-Sa’dy; and Kawthar al-Abwyny.The security forces alleged that the protest was not organized with proper preauthorization by the Palestinian police in Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate. Furthermore, members of the security forces assaulted Maher al-Akhras, a Palestinian man formerly imprisoned by Israel, and he was transported to the Palestine Medical Complex for treatment and is currently imprisoned by the Palestinian security forces. Al-Akhras’ wife stated to PCHR fieldworker in a phone call that he was arrested without a warrant from the Public Prosecution; he was also assaulted with clubs on his head and was transported to Palestine Medical Complex. She added that she went to the hospital with her children to visit him, and she was informed that Maher was transported to an unknown destination.Afterwards, arrestees families’ and journalists went to the Ramallah police station and gathered there to demand the release of the detainees and in condemnation of political arrest. The police attacked the gathering and forcefully dispersed them and arrested Doha Ma’dy, from Kafr Malik. According to lawyer Mohanad Karaja, Head of Lawyers for Justice, the arrestees remain under arrest as of Sunday morning.Hereby, PCHR:

  • emphasizes that the repeated attacks on civilians, human rights activists, civil society, and journalists practicing their right of peaceful assembly, and demanded accountability for suspects in the crime against Nizar Banat
  • stresses that this is not the first incident of its kind where peaceful protestors were assaulted by the security forces since the murder of Nizar Banat
  • confirms that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law, and by international human rights standards
  • stresses that it is imperative for the Palestinian Authority to respect the constitution and its international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits limitations on the right to peaceful assembly
  • demands the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minster of Interior, to take decisive action to limit security forces’ breaches of rights and freedoms that are guarded by the Palestinian Basic Law and international laws abiding to Palestine
  • asserts that Nizar Banat was murdered in a crime that the PA publicly acknowledged and admitted to and affirmed that it shall hold perpetrators accountable; hence, PCHR demands transparency in the procedures taken by the PA in this regard and to inform the public of all developments.