Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi who has been held in an Israeli prison for slapping an Israeli soldier who violently broke into her family house in the occupied West Bank town of Nabi Saleh is expected to be released this Sunday according to her father Bassem Tamimi.
In press statements Bassem Tamimi affirmed that Ahed is scheduled to be released on Sunday at the Jabara checkpoint near the Palestinian city of Tulkarem along with her mother Nariman after spending eight months in Israeli custody.
“Ahed will finish her sentence time next Sunday. We will be waiting to welcome her at the Jabarah checkpoint then head for the press conference then visit Yasser Arafat’s tomb and Martyrs Shrine in Nabi Saleh after which we will head home to meet people who are welcoming her release.”
“Time is an eternity for those who wait it is mixed feelings. Our home and hearts are open to reunite with her hopefully we will meet soon” Bassem told Reuters Thursday.
The 17-year-old Ahed was sentenced to eight months in prison after a video of her slapping and yelling at an Israeli occupation soldier became viral. Ahed was attempting to force the Israeli soldier out of her family’s house.
Her mother Nariman and cousin were also arrested for the same incident.
Her 15-year-old cousin Mohammed Tamimi had been shot in the head with a rubber-coated steel bullet a day before. Tamimi was charged with aggravated assault obstructing the work of soldiers and incitement among other charges.
Her brother Waad is still being held in Israeli prisons as he was detained three months ago without charge or trial.
The Tamimi family has been constantly targeted due to their active resistance against Israeli settlement expansion at the expense of the their village’s lands.
There are currently more than 6500 Palestinians in Israeli jails including at least 350 children.
