Palestinians protest against Mahmoud Abbas after activist’s death

Hundreds gathered in city of Ramallah in the third day of protests over the death of activist Nizar Banat in PA custody.

Angry demonstrators clashed with Palestinian security forces during a third day of protests in the occupied West Bank over the death of an outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority (PA) who died while in PA custody. Hundreds gathered in the city of Ramallah – the headquarters of the PA – to chant slogans against President Mahmoud Abbas, two days after Abbas’s forces arrested activist Nizar Banat. According to Banat’s family, two dozen officers beat him on the head with batons and metal rods. His death was confirmed a few hours after his arrest.