Palestinian Teen Activist Released; Freedom Flotilla Intercepted

FEATURING MAZIN QUMSIYEH – The teenage Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi has been freed after more than 6 months in Israeli captivity. Tamimi made international headlines after she was jailed for slapping an armed Israeli soldier in defense of her cousin who was shot. The young woman returned home triumphantly as hundreds of supporters gathered around. The 17-year old Palestinian activist has become a symbol of resistance around the world. She is only one of thousands of Palestinian children that have been incarcerated by Israel.

Meanwhile the Israeli Navy has intercepted a flotilla of boats carrying aid supplies to Gaza. The “Freedom Flotilla” 2018 is part of an on-going international solidarity effort to break Israel’s siege of Gaza. Israeli authorities arrested those on board. Eight years ago, a boat named the Mavi Marmara attempting to similarly break the Gaza siege was attacked by Israeli forces who killed 9 people on board.

Mazin Qumsiyeh has been on the faculties of the University of Tennessee, Duke, and Yale Universities. He is now a professor at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. His books include Popular Resistance in Palestine and Sharing the Land of Canaan. He is founding director of the Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability.