West Bank: Palestinian official dies after being thrashed by Israeli forces

Senior Palestinian official Ziad Abu Ein died on Wednesday after he was beaten up by Israeli security forces during a demonstration in West Bank; Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the “barbaric act”.

Abu Ein, who was in charge of Israeli settlements for the Palestinian Authority (PA), “was martyred after being beaten in the chest”, Ahmed Bitawi, the director of the Ramallah hospital, said.

According to sources, security forces beat Abu Ein with their helmets and the butts of their guns during a protest rally in Turmus Ayya near Ramallah. Israeli soldiers were seen firing tear gas at some 300 Palestinian demonstrators who intended to plant saplings in protest. Abu Ein was reportedly hit in the chest by three soldiers. In Israeli army doctor tried to treat him as he collapsed from the blows; he was soon rushed to a hospital.

Abbas condemned the “brutal assault that led to the martyrdom” of Abu Ein, calling it “a barbaric act that cannot be tolerated or accepted”, official Palestinian news agency WAFA said.

“We will take the necessary measures after the results of the investigation into the incident”, Abbas said, before declaring a mourning for three days.

Hamas, the de facto rulers of Gaza, issued a statement mourning the death of Abu Eid, and called on the Palestinian Authority to stop security coordination with Israel.

“The time has come to rally all our forces in facing the criminal Zionist occupation and stop all sorts of security coordination with the occupation”, it said in its statement.

55-year-old Abu Ein has previously been arrested by Israeli authorities – he was extradited from the US over the death of two Israelis in 1981. Before monitoring the separation barrier and Israeli settlements, he was a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council and deputy Palestinian minister for prisoner affairs.