Italian artists pay tribute to jailed Palestinian teen

By Zeynep Hilal Karyagdi and Qais Abu Samra

BETHLEHEM, Palestine

Two Italian artists have begun painting the image of Ahed al-Tamimi, a 17-year-old Palestinian girl who has spent the last several months in Israeli police custody, on the separation barrier that snakes through the occupied West Bank.

The two artists, who preferred not to give their names and who have not made any statements to the press, wanted to express their support for al-Tamimi by painting a larger-than-life portrait of the detained teen, who has become a symbol of the Palestinian resistance.

Palestinian activist Ahmed al-Arabi told Anadolu Agency that the artists hoped to pay tribute to the 17-year-old resistance icon -- and the Palestinian cause -- through their art.

According to al-Arabi, the 30-square-meter mural will likely take a couple of days to complete.

“They are preparing the mural in anticipation of al-Tamimi’s expected release,” he said.

Earlier this year, al-Tamimi was slapped with eight months behind bars for “attacking” an Israeli soldier.

But the teen’s father, Basem al-Tamimi, has voiced hope that his daughter could be released next Sunday.

The Israeli authorities, however, have yet to announce an official release date for the detained teen.

In 2012, Istanbul’s Basaksehir Municipality granted al-Tamimi the prestigious Hanzala Courage Award for defying Israeli soldiers who had just arrested her brother.

During her visit to Turkey, al-Tamimi also had the opportunity to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Palestinian figures, roughly 6,500 Palestinians -- including an estimated 350 minors -- are currently languishing in Israeli prisons.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara