Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi says 'resistance continues' after prison release

On Sunday, Ahed Tamimi - the teenager who became a global symbol of Palestinian resistance after she was jailed for slapping and kicking an Israeli soldier when she was just 16 years of age - was released from prison, according to Al Arabiya.

Accompanied by her mother, who was also jailed at the time, Ahed smiled as she returned to her hometown of Nabi Saleh and was greeted by countless supporters.

"The resistance continues until the occupation is removed. All the female prisoners are steadfast. I salute everyone who supported me and my case," she said after her release.

The Tamimi family are prominent activists, regularly protesting against the illegal and ongoing occupation of Palestinian land.

Hours after she returned home from an Israeli military prison, where she had been held for eight months, Ahed met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

"[Ahed Tamimi] is a symbol for the Palestinian struggle for freedom and independence," stated President Abbas following the meeting.

The teenager later visited the tomb of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, where she recited Islamic prayers and laid flowers.

She also visited the home of a family member who was shot dead in June after throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.

The prominent Palestinian activist was 16-year-old when she was arrested during a raid on her family's home in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh on December 19, 2017, after a video of her slapping and kicking two Israeli soldiers went viral online.

Tamimi was fighting back against the Israeli soldiers just moments after they had shot her 15-year-old cousin in the face with a rubber bullet.

Although he survived the attack, Tamimi's cousin experienced severe internal bleeding and was put in a medically-induced coma for 72 hours.

Tamimi was later indicted by Israeli authorities on twelve charges, including allegedly assaulting an Israeli soldier, interfering with a soldier's duties, and two previous instances of stone-throwing.

In April 2017, Ahed's lawyer filed a complaint with the Israeli General Attorney, accusing an Israeli interrogator of sexually harassing the teenager.

At the time, Gaby Lasky, the activist's lawyer, described the incident as a "gross violation of the law". According to the complaint, the interrogator, who is an officer in the military intelligence unit Aman, had questioned Tamimi in an "inappropriate manner".

Despite the international pressure and widespread criticism against Israel, prosecutions of minors like Ahed Tamimi and numerous other similar cases continue. 

More than 300 Palestinian minors are currently in Israeli jails, 60 percent of which face physical and psychological torture, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club (PPC).