- Culture
- 30 Jul 18
Palestinian Ahed Tamimi released after being imprisoned for slapping Israeli soldier
The 17-year-old was released eight months after she slapped an Israeli soldier for refusing to leave her family's land
17-year-old Ahed Tamimi has been released from prison eight months after slapping an Israeli soldier who refused to leave her family's land.
The teen's mother, who had also been arrested for filming the slap, was released alongside her.
After conflicting information from Israeli authorities on where the pair would be driven to upon their release, they were driven to a checkpoint near their home village in occupied West Bank.
Confusion about where Israel will release Ahed Tamimi and her mom continues. After 4 hours of chaos, her father just got a call saying they’re taking them straight to Nabi Saleh. pic.twitter.com/QdoCJYrOEF
— Dena Takruri (@Dena) July 29, 2018
Israeli soldiers just threw a sound bomb at us - a team of journalists- as we were trying to film around the Atara Checkpoint near Birzeit. This is the 5th time soldiers stop us today pic.twitter.com/npf44PEnLF
— Dena Takruri (@Dena) July 28, 2018
A crowd of both supporters and protestors gathered for her release.
#BREAKING Ahed Tamimi has been released from Israeli prison alongside her mother.
📷: AFP pic.twitter.com/9UOJkhj1AR— Areeb Ullah (@are_eb) July 29, 2018
Back in December 2017, Ahed was arrested 1 hour after hearing that her 15-year-old cousin Mohammed was in serious condition. He had been shot in the head by an Israeli Defence Forces soldier.
Ahed, who was 16 at the time, then approached soldiers who were on her family's land in the Israel-occupied village of Nabi Saleh.
She tried to get them to leave and when they refused, she slapped one of the soldiers.
Her mother had filmed the incident and the video went viral, launching Ahed as an icon of Palestinian resistance.
Ahed was indicted on five counts of assaulting security forces, including threatening a soldier, attacking a soldier under aggrevated circumstances, interfering with a soldier in carrying out his duties, incitment, and throwing objects at individuals or property.
Her mother, Narimen, was accused of being involved in the slapping and for incitement on social media.
The pair returned home together to family and supporting neighbours.
Ahed Tamimi’s younger brother Abu Yazan has been up all night awaiting the release of his sister and mother. This pic was taken at 4 am at his home in Nabi Saleh. pic.twitter.com/oksB1Q58Cu
— Dena Takruri (@Dena) July 29, 2018
