Palestinian sources reported the arrest of Palestinian Authority security personnel suspected of involvement in the killing of activist Nizar Banat while he was being arrested in Hebron in the West Bank, and this comes amid international demands to punish those involved in this incident.

The Palestinian Watan News Agency (non-governmental) reported that the General Intelligence Service of the Palestinian Authority transferred 15 officers and members of the security services to Jericho Prison for interrogation on Thursday, against the background of the killing of dissident girls.

The agency said that these soldiers were arrested and transferred to Jericho based on the results of the investigation committee by a decision of the Military Intelligence and the Military Prosecution.

According to the same source, the soldiers are from the force that participated in the arrest of the late activist Banat.

In this context, the Anatolia news agency quoted a source it described as being informed that the detainees' names were mentioned in the report of the investigation committee set up by Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh.

For his part, Ammar Banat, Nizar's brother, indicated in his Facebook account yesterday evening, Thursday, that the family had received information about the arrest of 14 members of the security forces who participated in the "assassination" of his brother, but he said that they do not take this information seriously, and demanded that the names of the security personnel who were killed be disclosed. They were arrested.

The results of the investigation committee

Yesterday, Thursday, Khalil Banat (the father of the late activist) described the death of his son Nizar as a crime and political assassination, noting that it took place by order of higher political bodies from the Palestinian Authority.

During his meeting with the representative of the European Union to the Palestinian Authority, Sven Kon von Burgsdorff, Khalil demanded the formation of an impartial investigation committee that has nothing to do with the authority. He also called for the arrest of all those involved in the murder of his son.

For his part, von Burgsdorff said, during a visit to the home of the Palestinian activist's family in Hebron, that the union will continue to demand the Palestinian Authority to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the case.

The Palestinian Minister of Justice, head of the investigation committee into the death of activist Nizar Banat, said on Wednesday that the latter’s death was not natural, adding that the Military Prosecution is conducting the investigation and indicting the suspects.

He explained that it was proven to the investigation committee, through video views and all testimonies, that the deceased had left the house with the security force alive, but he died on the way.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, criticized the Palestinian security forces' confrontation with demonstrators who were condemning the incident of Nizar Banat's death, and called on the Palestinian Authority to ensure the safety of the demonstrators.