The European Union’s representative in Palestine denounced on Tuesday 24 August the arrest over the weekend of “dozens of Palestinian activists” who were participating in demonstrations calling for a transparent investigation and the prosecution of those responsible for the death in custody of political activist Nizar Banat in late June.
Several protesters are reportedly still in detention.
“These events, as well as reports of ill-treatment, are of concern and take place against the backdrop of reports of an increase in apparently politically motivated arrests by the Palestinian Authority over the past few months”, the representative said in a statement. “Violence against peaceful human rights defenders, activists and protesters is unacceptable”, he warned. He called for a swift and “fully transparent” conclusion to the investigation into Mr Banat’s death, and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The EU representative recalled that the EU “firmly expects” the Palestinian Authority to respect the standards of the international human rights conventions to which it has acceded, in particular concerning freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)