There has been a rising social media storm over the past few days as human rights activists expressed their outrage following the arrest and imprisonment of 16-year-old Palestinian Ahed Tamimi.
The hashtags #FreeAhedTamimi and #FreeAhed were launched in both Arabic and English soon after she was kidnapped from her home at 4am on Tuesday morning.
Israeli writer Miko Peled highlighted what had occurred to Ahed, the daughter of his friend Bassem Tamimi who he was with during the summer in Palestine, and he called on his 21,700 followers to retweet and share using the hashtag #FreeAhed.
#israeli terror squads raided the home of Bassem Tamimi and kidnapped his daughter. #FreeAhed RT! pic.twitter.com/r5olsaIMYJ
— Miko Peled, (@mikopeled) December 19, 2017
Leader of the British Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn also sent a message of support to Ahed after the six-year-old daughter of journalist Clayton Swisher asked him about Tamimi’s case. He condemned Ahed’s arrest calling on the authorities to free all child prisoners. “Let them be free. Let them be children,” he said.
My 6 year old raises #AhedTamimi arrest by #Israel with UK Labour Party Leader @jeremycorbyn today—here’s his reply #ProudDad #FreeAhedTamimi pic.twitter.com/LOY2JNpU6C
— Clayton Swisher (@claytonswisher) December 20, 2017
#NoWayToTreatAChild was also widely used as supporters stressed that the arrest of a child activist is inhumane and goes against children’s basic human rights.
Seriously? Arresting a 16 year old in the middle of the night? #FreeAhedTamimi #NoWayToTreatAChild
— Diana Buttu (@dianabuttu) December 19, 2017
She should be enjoying studying a favorite subject or taken by an adolescent crush, instead she's fighting settler-colonialism and inspiring us all in her struggle for freedom. She didnt ask to be a leader but she's certainly one of mine. #FreeAhedTamimi #NoWayToTreatAChild
— Noura Erakat (@4noura) December 20, 2017
Many saluted Ahed’s courage and strong resilience after a photo of her was shared in court at the Ofer military base in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday.
May we all have a quarter of her courage and integrity, when we are only twice her age …#FreeAhedTamimi pic.twitter.com/5RUpLC8uty
— Joe Catron (@jncatron) December 20, 2017
Ahed is the true meaning of courage… #FreeAhed #Jerusalem #JerusalemIsTheCapitalofPalestine #القدس #القدس_عاصمة_فلسطين #القدس_عاصمة_فلسطين_الأبدية #القدس_عربية pic.twitter.com/MBDXK4wanp
— لين الريماوي (@LeenRimawi) December 19, 2017
#FreeAhed
Let's have the courage to cry out freedom for Palestinian youth. Ahed was mature enough to resist even when she was 9. https://t.co/XZkltfGfOB— berin ceylan bülbül (@berinceylan) December 19, 2017
Journalist Jamal Dajani also shared a photo of Ahed Tamimi conveying her strength and courage and used Ahed’s bravery to illustrate the bravery of all Palestinian women. “A picture is worth a thousand words…a Palestinian woman is worth a thousand Zionist Settlers.”
A picture is worth a thousand words…a Palestinian woman is worth a thousand Zionist Settlers… #FreeAhed pic.twitter.com/eJGTlrv2P9
— Jamal Dajani جمال (@JamalDajani) December 20, 2017
Nothing seems to intimidate Israel more than a young beautiful girl with more courage than all their soliders combined #FreeAhedTamimi
— Dania (@danyeahx) December 19, 2017
Ahed Tamimi has shown more strength and resistance than all Arab leaders combined #عهد_التميمي pic.twitter.com/EMhasOAPmn
— Fatima (@fatimalmahmoud) December 19, 2017
Others likened her to Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai.
Ahed is the Palestinian Malala. Her photo will soon be on T-shirts worldwide.
— Ron Campbell (@dlanor2) December 19, 2017
Many also shared the video of Ahed and two other women standing up to two armed Israeli soldiers, forcing them off her property.
What a brave and powerful soul. #عهد_التميمي #FreeAhedTamimi pic.twitter.com/HqFfrRHKIB
— Walaa Issa (@walaaissa01) December 20, 2017
She continues to be the symbol of struggle, steadfastness and dignity of the Palestinians.
Whilst many continue to show support for Ahed and praise her for her resistance, some also highlighted how Israel has been attempting to keep Ahed’s blonde-haired, blue-eyed photo out of the news out of fear that her “European looks” will bring more attention to their continued war crimes.
Search "Ahed Tamimi blonde," it's almost all Israelis obsessing over whether she is actually Palestinian because she doesn't fit their racialized view of what a Palestinian ought to look like.
— بابا noël (@siinjiim) December 20, 2017
It's incredibly revealing when Zionists say "Don't let those blue eyes and blonde hair fool you" regarding Ahed Al Tamimi.
As if those elements are inherently innocent. They're saying had she been dark skinned and brown eyed they'd expect it from her.
— Fathi 🌞 فتحي (@AManInTheSun) December 20, 2017
Ahed is challenging the international community’s preconceived judgement of a Palestinian’s appearance.
Political cartoonist Carlos Latuff also created and shared a number of pieces showing Ahed, her strength shone through each one.
FreeAhedTamimi, kidnapped by Israeli soldiers https://t.co/zHi3CMevte pic.twitter.com/4fEYdjEPIV
— Carlos Latuff (@LatuffCartoons) December 21, 2017
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. If the image(s) bear our credit, this license also applies to them. What does that mean? For permissions beyond the scope of this license, please contact us.