Tamimi gives first press conference since release, slams Israeli media

Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi gives her first press conference since she was released from an Israeli prison this morning after serving eight months for slapping an Israeli soldier outside her West Bank home.

“I want to thank everyone who has stood with me while I was in prison. I want to thank all the people who had campaigned for me. I hope that the campaigns that were done on my behalf will continue for all the other political prisoners, especially the young children,” Tamimi tells reporters in her hometown of Nabi Saleh.

She expresses her solidarity with residents of the Gaza Strip and Khan Al-Ahmar “fighting against the occupation.” The latter is a West Bank Bedouin village slated for demolition by Israel.

“I come to also reiterate the message that Jerusalem is and will always be the capital of Palestine,” Tamimi says.

She thanks her mother, Nariman, who was also released from prison today. “Her ability to remain strong is what helped me continue,” says Ahed.

“I want to say that women are a key part of the Palestinian fight for freedom,” the teenager says.

Tamimi also announces she is boycotting the Israeli media as “they have consistently defamed my family and our struggle.”

She adds that she would not take any questions from Israeli reporters present.

— Jacob Magid