Officials in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the Fatah party are accusing the Gaza-ruling Hamas of plotting chaos in the West Bank and a coup against the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
Hamas is planning to capitalize on the accidental death of an activist in PNA security custody as a trigger for sowing turmoil in the West Bank, officials warned amid local and international condemnation of the use of brute force against protesters.
“The Hamas movement is cheaply seeking to exploit the death of activist Nizar Banat to overthrow and control the PLO and to turn Palestinians against the PNA,” said Abdullah Kumail, the governor of the central West Bank city of Salfit.
Kumail moved on to blame Hamas entirely for the “mayhem it is seeking to spread on the streets,” noting that the group must first wait for the results of investigations into Banat’s death.
Banat’s controversial death has spurred far-reaching tensions between the PNA and Fatah on the one hand and opposition factions and activists on the other.
Heated anti-PNA demonstrations erupted in the West Bank but were quickly repressed by security services.
Later on, Fatah supporters led counter-protests supporting PNA President Mahmoud Abbas and under the slogan “with legitimacy.”
They looked to back Abbas while opposition factions and activists were calling for his departure and the overthrowing of the incumbent regime.
PNA security services and pro-Abbas civilians used tear gas, sound bombs, and batons to suppress opposition demonstrators. This led to strains building up in the West Bank.
Video footage showed security forces beating protesters and journalists while loyalists attacked the activists with batons and stones.
It is noteworthy that anti-PNA demonstrators had pledged to continue protesting in Ramallah and other areas until Abbas and his government are removed.
They chanted slogans in demand of Abbas leaving and the falling of the current regime. Still, Fatah said it would protect its national project and strike with an iron fist anyone who dared challenge authority and the security establishment.
