World

Palestinian girl charged after slapping soldier on video

January 1, 2018 3:32 pm

Israeli authorities have charged a Palestinian teenager with assault after a video of her hitting and pushing Israeli soldiers went viral.

Ahed Tamimi, 17, and her cousin were filmed in a confrontation with the soldiers that was widely shared by Palestinians on social media.

She faces 12 charges including aggravated assault and throwing stones.

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But the family say they were involved in legitimate resistance during protests in the occupied West Bank.

Israel’s military says the soldiers were preventing Palestinians from throwing stones at nearby motorists.

The video, filmed on 15 December, shows a group of women including Tamini shouting at, hitting and kicking two heavily-armed Israeli soldiers.

It was widely circulated online, and many Palestinians have hailed Tamimi as a hero of the resistance to Israeli occupation.