Ahed Tamimi: Palestinian teenager who slapped Israeli soldiers sentenced to eight months in prison under plea bargain

A teenage Palestinian girl who was filmed kicking and slapping two Israeli soldiers has been sentenced to eight months in jail as part of a plea bargain.

Ahed Tamimi, 17, became a hero to Palestinians after the footage emerged of her hitting the soldiers at the entrance to her home in the village of Nabi Saleh in the occupied West Bank.

Tamimi was 16 at the time of the offence.

Her lawyer, Gaby Lasky, said she is also being fined 5,000 shekels (about $1,400).

Tamimi told reporters in court there is “no justice under occupation and we are in an illegal court.”

When her trial began last month, she faced 12 charges, including aggravated assault. 8 were dropped as part of the plea deal.

She was denied bail ahead of her military trial, which took place behind closed doors. With time already served taken into account, Tamimi will remain in prison for a further five months.

Tamimi’s case prompted criticism from right-wing Israelis, who said the military looked weak for allowing the teenager to strike a soldier and an officer with impunity.

However, the army said the soldier “acted professionally” by showing restraint.

The incident has attracted international attention. Amnesty International called her the “Rosa Parks of Palestine” and her trial has been witnessed by journalists, diplomats and international observers.

A group of American public figures, including actors Danny Glover and Rosario Dawson and novelist Alice Walker, signed a petition calling for her release and comparing her case to those of “the children of immigrants and communities of colour who face policy brutality in the United States.”

Tamimi’s mother, Nariman, and a cousin were also arrested. Both are reported to have accepted plea bargains.

Magdalena Mughrabi, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East, said: “Today’s sentence is another alarming example of the Israeli authorities’ contempt for their obligations to protect the basic rights of Palestinians living under their occupation, especially children.

“Ahed Tamimi is a minor. Nothing she did warrants her continued imprisonment and she must be released immediately.

“By sentencing Ahed to eight months in prison, the Israeli authorities have confirmed yet again that they have no regard for the rights of Palestinian children, and have no intention to reverse their discriminatory policies.”