Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to ‘Marches for Freedom’

This week: Former hunger striking Palestinian prisoner gets a taste of freedom; African asylum seekers march through central Tel Aviv and the Negev desert demanding recognition as refugees and an end to detentions; an art exhibit in Bethlehem brings occupation to pilgrims, one tear gas canister at a time; a week after massive storm, Gaza residents still struggle to recover from floods; Afghan asylum seekers march in Belgium; Tel Aviv homeless activists face eviction from tent encampment; and, Israeli journalists demand better wages and work conditions.

Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
Former hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Samer Issawi poses for a photo with his family after his release from Israeli prison and returning to his home village of Issawiya in East Jerusalem, 23 December 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
African asylum seekers and Israeli activists march in central Tel Aviv in solidarity with those under detention and calling for recognition of all refugees’ rights, December 21, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
African asylum seekers and Israeli activists march in central Tel Aviv in solidarity with those under detention and calling for recognition of all refugees’ rights, December 21, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
African asylum seekers march from the Holot detention center toward the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva, calling to release all detainees from another ‘March for Freedom’ a few days earlier, Negev Desert, Israel, December 19, 2013. (Tali Mayer/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
A handcuffed African asylum seeker shouts as he sits inside a police bus, after he was arrested by immigration police during a solidarity ‘March for Freedom,’ Negev, Israel, December 19, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
African asylum seekers wait in line to exit the Holot detention center to meet with Israeli activists who made a solidarity visit outside the facility, bringing food and clothes, December 21, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
A Christmas tree made of razor wire and tear gas grenades is displayed in Manger Square, Bethlehem as part of an activist art exhibit, December 21, 2013. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
A week after torrential rains caused floodwaters to reach four meters, Palestinians use fishing boats to assist residents in retrieving belongings from homes along flooded streets in the Al Nafaq section of Gaza City, December 18, 2013. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
A week after torrential rains caused floodwaters to reach four meters, Palestinians were still retrieving belongings from homes flooded in the Al Nafaq section of Gaza City, December 18, 2013. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
Afghans carry a sign reading, “We are not dangerous, we are in danger”, during a march held by hundreds of Afghan asylum seekers from Brussels to Mons in Belgium on December 20, 2013. (Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
Eritrean and Ethiopian asylum seekers serve food to celebrate the the feast of Frumentius, in Levinsky park in south Tel Aviv, December 21, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
Resident of the Arlozorov protest camp displays an eviction order given to him by the Tel Aviv Municipality in the early hours of the morning, Tel Aviv, Israel, December 25, 2013. The camp has been occupied by homeless activists since the social justice protests in 2011. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
Workers from various local media outlets in Israel protest against possible dismissals and for better working conditions, Tel Aviv, Israel, December 22, 2013. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to 'Marches for Freedom'
An Activestills exhibition hangs at a solidarity tent for Samer Issawi, a few hours before his release from Israeli prison, Issawiya, East Jerusalem, December 23, 2013. (Tali Mayer/Activestills.org)