PHOTOS: A year of women’s struggles in Palestine and Israel

Activestills By Activestills March 8, 2016 | Edit

They confronted Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and police in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, opposed the occupation, violence against women, and fought against racism and police brutality. A year of women’s struggles.

Photos: Anne Paq, Ahmad Al-Bazz, Faiz Abu-Rmeleh, Mohannad Darabee, Mohannad Saleem, Oren Ziv, Yotam Ronen, Keren Manor
Photo Editing: Keren Manor

A Palestinian woman throws stones during a protest against the occupation a day before the International Women Day in front of Qalandiya military checkpoint, West Bank, March 7, 2015. The annual march was repressed by the Israeli army. (Activestills.org)
A Palestinian woman throws a stone during an International Women’s Day protest near the Israeli army’s Qalandiya checkpoint, West Bank, March 7, 2015. The army forcefully dispersed the annual march. (Activestills.org)
Members of ’40 Mothers’, an anti-occupation group composed of Israeli mothers opposing mandatory conscription, protest in support of Tair Kaminer, a 19-year-old Israeli woman imprisoned for refusing to join the army and take part in the occupation, Tel Hashomer Induction Base, January 10, 2016.
Members of ’40 Mothers’, an anti-occupation group composed of Israeli mothers opposing mandatory conscription, protest in support of Tair Kaminer, a 19-year-old Israeli woman imprisoned for refusing to join the army and take part in the occupation, Tel Hashomer Induction Base, January 10, 2016.
Palestinian women shout slogans during the International Women Day protest in front of Qalandiya military checkpoint, West Bank, March 7, 2015. The annual march was repressed by the Israeli army. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian women shout slogans during an International Women Day protest in front of Qalandiya military checkpoint, West Bank, March 7, 2015.(Activestills.org)
Right-wing Israelis confront members of ‘Women in Black’ during their weekly vigil against the occupation, central Tel Aviv, January 22, 2016. Women in Black have been holding weekly vigils against the occupation for two decades.
Right-wing Israelis confront members of ‘Women in Black’ during their weekly vigil against the occupation, central Tel Aviv, January 22, 2016. Women in Black have been holding weekly vigils against the occupation for two decades.
Palestinians citizens of Israel participate in a vigil in the town of Ramle marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, on November 25, 2015. The protesters staged coffins to protest against domestic violence and the rise in numbers of women murdered by their husbands. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian citizens of Israel participate in a vigil in the town of Ramle marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, on November 25, 2015. The protesters staged coffins to protest domestic violence and the rise in number of women murdered by their husbands in Israel. (Activestills.org)
Women and men hold a demonstration to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Tel Aviv, October 25, 2015.
Women and men hold a demonstration to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Tel Aviv, October 25, 2015.
Palestinians take part in the funeral ceremony of Riham Dawabsheh in the village of Duma, West Bank, September 7, 2015. Riham, 28-years old mother to the 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh, who was burnt to death in a July arson attack by suspected Jewish extremists in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, died on Monday of injuries sustained in the attack. (Activestills.org)
Palestinians take part in the funeral ceremony of Riham Dawabsheh in the village of Duma, West Bank, September 7, 2015. Riham, 28-year-old mother of 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh, who was burnt to death in a July arson attack by suspected Jewish extremists in the Israeli occupied West Bank, died of injuries sustained in the attack. (Activestills.org)
(Suha (C), the mother of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was murdered last year, sits in the district court in Jerusalem on November 30, 2015. The Jerusalem court convicted two Israeli minors of the kidnapping and burning alive of a Palestinian teenager in the run-up to the 2014 Gaza war, while the third defendant Yosef Haim Ben-David's mental state will be evaluated. Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, was abducted and killed on July 2, 2014, weeks after the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Activestills.org)
Suha (C),  mother of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir who was murdered a year earlier, sits in the Jerusalem District Court on November 30, 2015. The court convicted two Israeli minors of the kidnapping and burning alive of a Palestinian teenager in the run-up to the 2014 Gaza war, while the third defendant Yosef Haim Ben-David’s mental state was still being evaluated. Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, was abducted and killed on July 2, 2014, weeks after the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Activestills.org)
Young Israeli women Tair Kaminer and Tania Golan pose for a final photo outside the Tel Hashomer induction base where they announced their refusal to serve in the Israeli army, January 31, 2016. Kaminer was sentenced to prison.
Young Israeli women Tair Kaminer and Tania Golan pose for a final photo outside the Tel Hashomer induction base where they announced their refusal to serve in the Israeli army, January 31, 2016. Kaminer was sentenced to prison.
Israeli forces stop Palestinians at an army roadblock in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud, on October 15, 2015. Israel set up checkpoints in the Palestinian neighbourhoods of east Jerusalem and mobilised hundreds of soldiers as a collective punishment after recent attacks by Palestinians. (Activestills.org)
Israeli forces stop Palestinians at an army roadblock in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud, on October 15, 2015. Israeli authorities set up checkpoints in the Palestinian neighborhoods of east Jerusalem and mobilized hundreds of soldiers as a collective punishment after attacks by Palestinians. (Activestills.org)
Protesters hold photos of feminist Palestinian member of parliament Khalida Jarrar, who is imprisoned by Israel on charges of incitement relating to her work as an elected official, outside the Ofer Military Prison, West Bank, April 16, 2015.
Protesters hold photos of feminist Palestinian member of parliament Khalida Jarrar, who is imprisoned by Israel on charges of incitement relating to her work as an elected official, outside the Ofer Military Prison, West Bank, April 16, 2015.
Palestinian women protesters march, during clashes with Israeli forces, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, October 14, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian women march during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, October 14, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Members of the Tamimi family prevent from an Israeli solider from arresting Mohammed Tamimi, 11, during the weekly protest against the occupation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, August 28, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Female members of the Tamimi family prevent an Israeli solider from arresting Mohammed Tamimi, 11, during a weekly protest against the occupation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, August 28, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Nariman Tamimi, a prominent figure of the popular struggle in her village, is seen recovering at her home in Nabi Saleh, West Bank, April 3, 2015. Nariman was shot in the leg with a live bullet on November 22, 2014, by an Israeli soldier during the weekly protest against the occupation. She is still recovering for the injury. (Activestills.org)
Nariman Tamimi, a prominent figure of the popular struggle in her village, is seen recovering at her home in Nabi Saleh, West Bank, April 3, 2015. Nariman was shot in the leg with a live bullet on November 22, 2014, by an Israeli soldier during the weekly protest against the occupation. (Activestills.org)
Palestinians women wait for a court hearing of their family members in the Ofer military court, near the West Bank town of Baituniya, February 8, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian women wait for court hearings for their family members in the Israeli army’s Ofer military court, near the West Bank town of Beituniya, February 8, 2015. (Activestills.org)
An Israeli activist, Zehava Greenfeld, sits inside a police car after she was arrested during a protest for the release of Palestinian Mohammed Allan, who is held by Israel without trial and who has slipped into a coma after a nearly two-month hunger strike, in the city of Ashkelon, August 16, 2015. Police prevented from Palestinian and Israel activists to arrive to the hospital in which Allan is held, arresting eight activists, using pepper spray and skunk water canon. (Activestills.org)
An Israeli activist, Zehava Greenfeld, inside a police car after she was arrested during a protest for the release of Mohammed Allan, a Palestinian man who was being held by Israel without trial and who had slipped into a coma after a nearly two-month hunger strike, in the city of Ashkelon, August 16, 2015. Police prevented from Palestinian and Israel activists from reaching to the hospital in which Allan was held, arrested eight activists, and used pepper spray and skunk water canons. (Activestills.org)
A protesters stand in front of a Police water canon during an Israeli Ethiopian protest against police brutality and racism, in Rabin square, Tel Aviv, May 3, 2015. (Activestills.org)
A protester stands in front of a police water canon during an Israeli Ethiopian protest against police brutality and racism, in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv, May 3, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Ethiopian Israelis march on Ayalon highway during an Israeli Ethiopian protest against police brutality and racism, Tel Aviv, May 3, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Ethiopian Israelis march on the Ayalon highway during an Israeli Ethiopian protest against police brutality and racism, Tel Aviv, May 3, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian women shout slogans as Israeli police forces block Palestinians at an entrance of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city, after Israeli police and authorities limited access to one of Islam's holiest sites, July 26, 2015, following clashes inside the compound. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian women shout slogans as Israeli police forces block Palestinians at an entrance of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, July 26, 2015. Israeli authorities limited Palestinian access to the holy site after clashes broke out in protest of visits by Jewish Israeli nationalists. (Activestills.org)
Yuli Novak speaks during a protest against the recent incitement against Breaking The Silence organization and other left-wing NGOs, Tel Aviv, December 19, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Executive Director of Breakign the Silence, Yuli Novak, speaks during a protest against recent incitement against left-wing NGOs, Tel Aviv, December 19, 2015. (Activestills.org)
28-year-old Palestinian artist Nidaa Badwan in her room in Deir al Balah city, Gaza Strip, 16 February 2015. Nidaa has hardly left her small room for more than a year, and created her own body of work.- striking self-portraits which turn to an exhibit called 100 Days of Solitude. (Activestills.org)
28-year-old Palestinian artist Nidaa Badwan in her room in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, 16 February 2015. Nidaa has rarely left her small room for more than a year, and created her own body of work — striking self-portraits which she turned into an exhibit called 100 Days of Solitude.
(Activestills.org)
Members of the family of Wael al-Najjar in front of their makeshift shelter in the village of Khuza'a, East of Gaza Strip, February 14, 2015. Wael al-Najjar, who live in the makeshift shelter with his wife and 8 childre had to borrow around 500 USD to build the structure, and the family relies on neighbours, relatives and donations for their daily food. Khuzaa'a was heavily attacked and damaged during last Israeli offensive. Parts of the village were occupied by Israeli soldiers and out of reach by the ambulances and the media during the offensive. Six months after the ceasefire that ended the offensive, 100, 000 Palestinians are still displaced and many live in very dire conditions. Rebuilding materials are scarce as the Gaza Strip face restrictions imposed by Israel. (Activestills.org)
Members of the family of Wael al-Najjar in front of their makeshift shelter in the village of Khuza’a, East of Gaza Strip, February 14, 2015. Wael al-Najjar, who live in the makeshift shelter with his wife and 8 children had to borrow around $500 to build the structure, and the family relies on neighbors, relatives and donations for their daily food. Khuzaa’a was heavily attacked and damaged during last Israeli offensive. Parts of the village were occupied by Israeli soldiers and cut off from medical services during the offensive. Rebuilding materials are scarce as the Gaza Strip faces import restrictions imposed by Israel. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian Malak Al-Khateb, 14, is welcomed by family members, as she arrives to Beitin village near Ramallah, after being released from an Israeli prison, February 13, 2015. Al-Khateb, from Beitin village near Ramallah, was taken prisoner on December 31, 2014, and was subjected to interrogation and harsh treatment without legal representation. She had been accused of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. On January 22, she was sentenced for two months in prison and a family was fined with 6,000 shekels fine ($1523). By the end of 2014, there were 197 children still imprisoned by Israel. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian girl Malak Al-Khateb, 14, is welcomed by family members, as she arrives to Beitin village near Ramallah, after being released from an Israeli military prison, February 13, 2015. Al-Khateb, from Beitin village near Ramallah, was arrested on December 31, 2014, and was subjected to interrogation and harsh treatment without legal representation. She was accused of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. On January 22, she was sentenced to two months in prison and her family was fined NIS 6,000 ($1500). (Activestills.org)
Palestinian women use their cell phone to photograph themselves outside Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's old city, January 9, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian women take a selfie outside Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, January 9, 2015. (Activestills.org)
Activestills

Activestills is a collective of Israeli, Palestinian, and international photographers, united by a conviction that photography is a vehicle for political and social change. We believe in the power of images to shape public attitudes and to raise awareness on issues that are generally absent from public discourse. We view ourselves as part of the struggle against all forms of oppression, racism, and violations of the basic right to freedom. Our images are frequently published by many leading human rights, development, and advocacy agencies, as well as by alternative and leading news media. To stay updated on our latest images, like Activestills on Facebook or visit our Flickr photostream.