TEL AVIV: Millions of people from around the world have signed several online petitions demanding the release of Ahed Tamimi, a 17-year-old Palestinian girl from Nabi Saleh village, and all children from Israeli jails.
Nearly 1.7 million people have signed an online petition calling for the release of Ahed Tamimi who is being held in an Israeli military jail, launched by Avaaz.
The website, avaaz.org is operated by Avaaz (“We” or “Us”). Avaaz is the operating name of the “Avaaz Foundation”, a non-profit organisation incorporated in the State of Delaware.
The petition states that “We demand 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.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.”
Another such petition is launched on Change.org, which reached over 63k from around the world have signed, calling for the unconditional release Tamimi, with the title of ‘Free Palestinian Ahed Tamimi arrested by Israeli forces’.
Amnesty International petition launched a similar petition targeting PM Benjamin Netanyahu, that aims for 1,000 supporters. It says, “Her trial before an Israeli military juvenile court is imminent – we must mobilise quickly and effectively. There is nothing Ahed Tamimi has done that can justify the continuing detention of a child. Help us put global pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”
CodePink calling for HR 4391, which is Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act, stated in its petition – #FREEAHEDTAMIM – that “it is well documented that Palestinian children are beaten, abused, and tortured during their arrests by the Israeli military, highlighted by the recent arrest and detention of 16-year old Ahed Tamimi”.
It is mentioned that Palestinian children are beaten, abused, and tortured during their detention by the Israeli military. “For Ahed’s sake”, according to CodePink, “we need as many members of Congress as possible to sign onto the legislation congresswoman Betty McCollum just introduced to end the abuse and detention of Palestinian children.”
Another relevant campaign is being run by American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), an organisation seeks to promote justice, equality, and human rights by ensuring that United States financial assistance provided to the government of Israel is not used to support the detention of Palestinian children by Israeli forces in a military detention system where ill-treatment is widespread and institutionalised—or their prosecution in a military court system that has been found to lack basic fair trial protections and guarantees. The AFSC appealing for it is the petition on ‘Take action: Hold Israel accountable for violating children’s rights‘.
Petition.parliment.uk appealing for 100k peoples’ signatures up till July 4, 2018, to get the Tamimi Family’s case to the UK parliament.
Similarly, there have been hundreds of other petitions launched on Care2.com; Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
On Jan 31, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Executive Officer Kate Lee said, in a press release on Tamimi’s 17th birthday, “We join the chorus of concerned citizens around the world calling for the immediate release of Ahed Tamimi. Today (Jan 31) Ms Tamimi will celebrate her 17th birthday behind bars. She is one of more than 300 Palestinian children in Israeli prisons and detention centres.”
On Feb 1, Alternative Information & Development Centre (AIDC) held a press conference on Israel’s irresponsibility regarding its obligations to protect children from excessively harsh criminal punishments under international Human Rights law. The conference demanded that Israel immediately ends all its violations and abuses against Palestinian Children and complies with its obligations under international law. Secondly, every Palestinian prisoners and detainee, especially children like Ahed, must immediately be released from Israeli detention and prison facilities.
The cases are thoroughly being published on Samidoun’s – an international network of organisers and activists working to build solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in their struggle for freedom- website.
A film Even though my Land is burning directed by Dror Dayan through a cinematic snapshot shows Tamimi’s case and the atrocities of Israel forces in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh.
Ahed Tamimi
Teenage Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi has been called the ‘Rosa Parks of Palestine’. For years, she and her family have bravely stood up against the Israeli occupied West Bank, but she now faces up to 10 years in prison over an altercation with Israeli soldiers.
On 15 December, then 16-year-old Ahed Tamimi and her family were protesting against Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In a horrifying turn of events, Ahed’s 14-year-old cousin, Mohammed, was shot in the head at close range by an Israeli soldier. He required intensive surgery, where part of his skull was removed, in order to dislodge the rubber bullet.
Later that day, Ahed also came face to face with Israeli soldiers, when they entered the yard of her family’s house. In a video posted to social media, an unarmed Ahed is shown slapping, shoving and kicking two armed Israeli soldiers who are wearing protective gear.
בסרטון שמופץ בשעות האחרונות וצולם ביום שישי בנבי סלאח נראות פלסטיניות דוחפות, בועטות ומנסות לסטור לחיילים, שנמנעים מלהגיב @inbaltamir pic.twitter.com/oE3qsvbDuB
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 18, 2017
On December 19, Ahed’s home was raided by Israeli soldiers during the night. She was arrested – and now faces charges of aggravated assault, obstructing the work of soldiers, and incitement.
Ahed is a high school student preparing for college. She lives in a Palestinian village famous for women leadership in resistance to the occupation.
In 2014, at the age of 13, she received the Hanzala Courage Award in Turkey.
In 2015, she and her family were profiled by the New York Times Magazine. Now she and her mother are sitting in Israeli jails. No one knows where they are being held or if they are okay.
The Tamimi family of Nabi Saleh is well known internationally for their activism against the Israeli occupation.
[…] Muhammad Tamimi after his initial surgery in December, have led to pronounced international focus and criticism of Israeli practices in the […]
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