Arab News

A family affair: The Tamimis’ history of resistance Nour freed but Ahed still in jail ‘in dire conditions’

- ABDUL HAKIM SALAH

“We were worried about Ahed, because she would be on the verge of collapse when she returned after many hours travelling from one prison to another.”

However, she added, Ahed’s spirits remain high because she believes Palestinia­ns must resist occupation, regardless of the consequenc­es.

When Ahed learned that Nour was to be released, Manal said, Ahed gave her cousin the password to her Instagram and Facebook accounts “so she could find out how the world was reacting to her case.”

Ahed will remain in custody at least until her hearing on Monday, when the prosecutio­n is expected to add to the 12 charges already filed against her. Ahed’s Israeli lawyer Gaby Lasky was not immediatel­y available for comment.

Nour’s father Naji, who was released from jail Friday morning, says Israeli forces raided his house and detained his daughter at 3:30 a.m. and that most of the questions she faced were about the video in which she and Ahed confronted the two soldiers.

He claimed the Israeli media was inciting hatred against his family, and Ahed in particular. “They always describe the family as having ‘a long history of terrorism,’ as if they are talking about ISIS,” he said.

The Tamimi family make up a

RAMALLAH: Ahed Tamimi has been in jail since Dec. 15. The 16-year-old Palestinia­n girl, who became internatio­nally famous when a video of her and her cousin Nour Tamimi slapping two Israeli soldiers went viral last month, remains in Israeli custody — along with her mother Nairiman — while Nour, 20, was released early Friday after posting bail of $1,450.

large portion of the 600-strong population of their village, Nabi Salih, in Ramallah. The village is known for its activism, including a weekly rally after Friday prayers.

“Popular resistance isn’t new (here),” Naji said. “The village has been suffering from restrictio­ns imposed by Israel.” Illegal settlement­s, he said, have “swallowed” vast areas of land around the village, and there were, until recently, two Israeli military checkpoint­s nearby.

However, in a move which offers hope to the Tamimis, Israel recently removed one of the checkpoint­s, he said, “following popular and media pressure.”

 ??  ?? Nour Tamimi, right, with Ahed Tamimi’s mother Nariman Tamimi, left, in Ofer military court. (File photo)
Nour Tamimi, right, with Ahed Tamimi’s mother Nariman Tamimi, left, in Ofer military court. (File photo)

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