Palestine’s girl hero may face sexual harassment in Israeli custody

A 16-year-old Palestinian girl, who has become the face of resistance by Palestinian youth against the Israeli occupation of their land, is facing threats of sexual harassment amid calls by radical Israelis to “exact a price” on her “in the dark.”

Ahed Tamimi became the latest face of Palestinian resistance when footage emerged of her slapping one and then another fully-armed Israeli officer in the face during a protest in her home village of Nabi Saleh, near the Palestinian city of Ramallah.

Israeli forces had earlier shot her cousin in the face. During a confrontation that reportedly erupted over that shooting, Ahed, recognizable since young age by her blond curly hair as well as her courageous posture, slapped and kicked two Israeli forces while protesting.

Faced with embarrassment as that video went viral, Israelis decided to arrest Ahed. They went on to take her into custody last week. According to some accounts, 20 Israeli army Jeeps arrived at Ahed’s house before dawn to arrest her.

Footage appeared later of her ransacked room, with her belongings strewn across the room, her bed mattress overturned, and her closets emptied on the floor.

In the footage, a window can be seen with what seems to be a bullet hole.

Ahed was arrested along with her mother, Nariman, who has been nabbed five times before, including for filming her children and other youths protesting against Israel.

An Israeli columnist, reportedly notorious for his radicalism, has now called for the punishment of the duo away from the public eye, in what Palestinian and other media suggest hint at sexual abuse and even rape.

“We should exact a price at some other opportunity, in the dark, without witnesses and cameras,” Ben Caspit wrote. “The Tamimi family has to learn, the hard way, that such systematic provocations” come at a great cost.