Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, 16, has gone on trial before an Israeli military court. Israel has faced criticism for prosecuting the teen who has become a powerful symbol of the Palestinian resistance.
Only family members were allowed to remain in the courtroom at Ofer military base, and diplomats were also asked to leave. After the prosecution read out the indictment, Tamimi’s trial was adjourned until March 11.
Ahed Tamimi is back in court today – and she’s facing up to 10 years in prison. This is no more than a desperate attempt by #Israel to intimidate Palestinian children who dare to stand up to repression. Take action to stand by Ahed now → https://t.co/d3QlBt4yqL #FreeAhedTamimi pic.twitter.com/GqPfT4EjIw
— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) February 13, 2018
Tamimi’s hearing has been twice delayed since it was scheduled to begin on January 31. The teen is charged with aggravated assault relating to an incident in the West Bank in December. A seven-page indictment lists 12 charges against the 16-year-old.
On December 15, Tamimi and her family were protesting against US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. During clashes with Israeli forces, Tamimi’s 14-year-old cousin, Mohammed, was shot in the head at close range by an Israeli soldier. He required intensive surgery to dislodge the rubber bullet. Later that day, Ahed confronted Israeli soldiers when they forced themselves into the courtyard of her family’s home.
Ahed’s military trial began today. Judge kicked out all diplomats, media & supporters & ordered a closed-door trial, saying its for Ahed’s own good! After charges read, trial adjourned til March 11. Ahed still denied bail. World will still be WATCHING #FreeAhedTamimi pic.twitter.com/5F7NKHHsiS
— Huwaida Arraf (@huwaidaarraf) February 13, 2018
A video, which has since gone viral, shows the unarmed teenage girl slapping, kicking, and shoving two armed Israeli soldiers who were wearing protective gear.
UN experts have pointed out that Tamimi was arrested in the middle of the night by armed soldiers, and questioned by Israeli security officials without a lawyer or family members present.
“This violates the fundamental legal guarantee to have access to counsel during interrogation,” Jose Guevara, chair of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, said on Tuesday.
As Ahed Tamimi's unjust trial begins today, following her ongoing unjust detention in Israeli prisons, over 10 million Indian women demand her freedom. They demand freedom for all Palestinian child prisoners & endorse BDS to end Israeli human rights abuses https://t.co/EBV4eGsLrt pic.twitter.com/TF8SLtgfbl
— BDS Movement (@BDSmovement) February 13, 2018
Experts have also expressed concern that Tamimi’s place of detention – Hasharon prison in Israel – was in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which states that the deportation of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the occupying power, or to that of any other country, is prohibited, regardless of the motive.
Speaking to RT’s ‘Going Underground’ in January, Ahed’s father, Bassem Tamimi, said: “I am a father. My heart, my soul, my wife, my daughter are in the hands of my enemy. I am scared, worried, sad, everything.”
Despite it all, he said he’s “proud” of his daughter and that she is strong to face the “enemy.” He also said Israel has no respect for international law and acts with impunity because of its “power.”
Take a good look. This is what the Israeli occupier gunmen did just before Ahed Tamimi slapped one of them. But she is the one on “trial.” https://t.co/0iu3F0lAY6
— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) February 5, 2018
“There is nothing more provocative than Israel’s occupation [of Palestine]…so the normal reaction is to resist,” Bassem Tamimi said.
In 2012, Amnesty International labeled Bassem Tamimi a prisoner of conscience during one of his numerous stints in an Israeli prison. Meanwhile, Nariman Tamimi has been detained five times by Israeli forces for protest action. Ahed has been detained twice under the same circumstances.
60% of #Palestine #Children Arrested by Israel Tortured https://t.co/xVtZrnS3Ne @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/znXK34R7rz
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) February 12, 2018
In January, European Union representatives and EU heads of mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah released a statement in which they expressed “deep concern” over the arrests of Ahed Tamimi and other Palestinian minors.
HRW says Tamimi’s pre-trial detention – 56 days and counting – is both a “violation of international law and unnecessary.” It also says her case raises concerns that “Israel’s military justice system, which detains hundreds of Palestinian children every year, is incapable of respecting children’s rights.”
Glenn #Greenwald: Federal Court Strikes Down a Law that Punishes Supporters of Israel #Boycott https://t.co/GO3Xxlunvu via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/1SukPmSfMe
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) February 11, 2018
This is not an “isolated case,” said Michael Lynk, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory on Tuesday. “Figures from Palestine show that Israel detains and prosecutes between 500 to 700 Palestinian children in military courts annually.”
(RT, PC, Social Media)
Ahed Tamimi has become a global sensation with supporters all over the world while Israel’s reputation has gone to the dog’s globally.
Just clicked on Ali Abunimah twitter.com/intifada/stat on this site… a very disturbing find about a Jewish soldier gloating about shooting Muhammad Tamimi in the head & Jewish desire to recreate Babylon through ISIS Maps… SAA put a stop to that dream???Lots of Buried weapons & abandoned by ISIS -labelled Israel in Deir Ezzor- Syria- seems to back up this dream???