1.7m sign online petition for Ahed Tamimi’s release

Nearly 1.7 million people have signed an online petition calling for the release of 17-year-old Palestinian Ahed Tamimi who is being held in an Israeli military jail.

Launched by her father, Basim, at the end of December, the petition “demand[s] that Ahed and all Palestinian children are released from Israeli prisons now”.

The international community must put an end to the ill-treatment and detention of Palestinian children. Enough is enough

the petition continues.

“To Ahed and all the children in Israeli jails: We stand by your side, and are holding you in our hearts. We will not give up until you are free. You are not alone.”

“Ahed Tamimi was dragged out of her bed in the night and arrested. Ahed is a child, and like thousands of Palestinian children she could be humiliated and abused if we don’t get her out fast.”

Israeli forces first detained Al-Tamimi on 19 December during an overnight raid that was carried out in Ramallah’s northern village of Nabi Saleh.

It was not the teen’s first brush with the Israeli forces.

Both her mother and cousin were arrested shortly afterwards. The girl’s father, mother and brothers have also all been repeatedly arrested for their “fierce opposition to Israel’s decades-long occupation.”

The Tamimi family of Nabi Saleh is well known internationally for their activism against the Israeli occupation.

Read: UK debates Israel’s military detention of Palestinian minors