'I grieve more for people of Gaza than for my daughter,' says mother of resistance icon Tamimi

By Enes Canli

JERUSALEM (AA) — The mother of Palestinian resistance icon Ahed Tamimi said a social media post cited as the reason for her daughter's arrest was posted by someone else.

Israeli media reported that Tamimi had allegedly made violent posts on social media targeting settlers residing in illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking to Anadolu, Narimane Tamimi disputed the allegations, asserting: "Israel and its soldiers do not need any reasons or legal order to arrest or detain someone. There are dozens of social media accounts using Ahed's name and photo. None of them belong to Ahed and she did not create the post."

"It's not just Ahed. Hundreds and thousands of young Palestinians give voice to the problems faced by Palestinians. These young individuals are also receiving threats and death threats from Israeli social media accounts."

Tamimi claimed that Israel had initiated a "revenge campaign" following a surprise attack by Palestinian resistance group Hamas from Gaza on Oct. 7. She said Israel was still reeling from the shock and was seeking "revenge" in the occupied West Bank.

"I grieve more for the people of Gaza than for my daughter, and I'm constantly in tears. We and Gaza are one."

- 'It will be your turn next'

The mother said Israeli soldiers forcibly entered their home in the night, breaking their door and searching for her daughter.

"They locked me and my mother in a room. My health deteriorated, and I couldn't breathe. About an hour later, they brought me my medication. The commanding officer leading them entered the room and insulted us, saying, 'You're depraved, terrorists, and you're killing us.'"

Mother Tamimi said the Israeli officer told her they took her daughter and husband, and that they would come to take her and her other children as well.

Showing Anadolu how the Israeli soldiers ransacked her daughter's room and damaged her belongings, Tamimi said they also subjected the family to psychological pressure.

"I could hear Ahed shouting at them from the room they locked me in. They put handcuffs on Ahed very tightly."

"I tried to get out, but the soldier at the door yelled at me and hurled insults. He threatened, 'Now we're taking your daughter, and it will be your turn next.' They stayed in the house for about 15 minutes and then left."

Israeli army forces on Monday detained the 23-year-old Tamimi, who lives with her family in the occupied West Bank town of Nabi Saleh.

Tamimi's father had been arrested by Israeli forces during a raid in the town last week.

In 2017, Tamimi was arrested by Israeli forces after a video went viral showing her, then 16, pushing and hitting Israeli soldiers who tried to enter her family's home.

She was later slapped with an eight-month jail term for "attacking" an Israeli soldier.

Tamimi has since become an international symbol of resistance against Israel's occupation in the West Bank.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan