PHOTOS: Answering tear gas with flowers

Activestills By Activestills April 14, 2015 | Edit

Photos and text by Oren Ziv / Activestills.org

Every Friday residents of the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, along with Palestinian, Israeli and international activists, attempt to march to the village’s spring. The small spring was taken over by Israeli settlers from the nearby settlement of Halamish years ago, and the Israeli army now prevents Palestinians from reaching it.

Before the protest this past Friday, children from Nabi Saleh placed flowers they picked from the surrounding hills into spent tear gas canisters fired at protesters in weeks past. The children of Nabi Saleh take part in the protests against the occupation on a weekly basis.

Special Coverage: Children Under Occupation

The installation was set up near the village’s main junction, near the home of Neriman and Bilal Tamimi, central activists in the village’s struggle. A week earlier, the Israeli army shot Manal Tamimi in the leg with a live bullet.

Palestinian children in Nabi Saleh place flowers in spent tear gas canisters fired by Israeli soldiers at past protests against the occupation, April 10, 2015.
Palestinian children in Nabi Saleh place flowers in spent tear gas canisters fired by Israeli soldiers at past protests against the occupation, April 10, 2015.
Palestinian children in Nabi Saleh placed flowers in spent tear gas canisters fired by Israeli soldiers at past protests against the occupation, April 10, 2015.
Palestinian children in Nabi Saleh placed flowers in spent tear gas canisters fired by Israeli soldiers at past protests against the occupation, April 10, 2015.
Palestinian youth are seen during the weekly protest against the occupation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, April 10, 2015.
Palestinian youth are seen during the weekly protest against the occupation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, April 10, 2015.
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.

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