Palestinian popular resistance

Palestinian residents of the West Bank town of Beita hold nightly protests against the settlement of Eviatar built on their lands, June 29, 2021. (Oren Ziv/Activestills)

The women at the heart of Beita’s resistance

For 100 days, Palestinians from Beita camped on a mountain to disrupt the rebuilding of an Israeli settler outpost. Meet the women who made it possible.

By Fatima AbdulKarim April 20, 2022

Several activists climbed the wall (Oren Ziv / Activestills)

WATCH: Hundreds commemorate nine years of popular struggle in Bil’in

Unarmed resistance against the wall and the occupation has been taking place for nine consecutive years. With its ups and downs, successes and losses, villagers and supporters gather for a special commemoration protest. Approximately 500 demonstrators gathered in the center of the West Bank village of Bil’in on Friday to mark nine years since village…

By Haggai Matar March 1, 2014

Israeli army and police raid and evict the Ein Hijleh protest camp in the early morning hours of February 7, 2014.

PHOTOS: Ein Hijleh village evicted after seven days of protest

One week ago, some 300 Palestinian activists established the protest village of ‘Ein Hijleh’ in a cluster of palm trees and long-abandoned houses north of the Dead Sea. Their goal was to protest Israeli government demands to retain control of the Jordan Valley as part of a U.S.-brokered peace deal. One week later, their encampment was…

By Activestills February 7, 2014

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Hand in hand. Bil'iners and the wall (Haggai Matar)

Bil’in revisited: The small changes in life under occupation

Joining Bil’in’s weekly demonstration against the wall after not attending for a while exposes the little differences in the routine of occupation and resistance. It’s been a couple of months since my last visit to Bil’in. Not too long, but long enough to suddenly notice those small changes that occur in every living environment, the…

By Haggai Matar November 8, 2013

A flower growing from a tear gas grenade hangs from razor wire near a memorial garden on the spot where, in a 2009 demonstration in the West Bank village of Bil'in, Bassem Abu Rahmah was shot and killed with a high-velocity tear gas grenade fired by Israeli soldiers, Bil'in, West Bank, October 4, 2013. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

PHOTOS: What the press missed in Bil’in tear gas flower garden

A garden of flowers planted in used tear gas grenades memorializes Bassem Abu Rahmah, killed by Israeli forces in 2009 in Bil’in. But recent AP photo coverage looks mostly at the flowers and misses the memorial. Text by Elias Nawawieh Photos by Activestills.org The act is one of both peaceful resistance and an answer to…

By Activestills October 8, 2013

Non-violent Palestinian activist with Obama mask arrested in Hebron (Oren Ziv / Activestills)

Palestinians greet Obama with popular resistance; army arrests dozens

After several days of small-scale demonstrations ahead of Obama’s visit, Palestinians organized two larger events Wednesday morning as the American president landed at Ben-Gurion Airport. About 500 people rebuilt 15 tents on privately owned lands in the new village-outpost of “Bab Al-Shams,” located at the heart of the much controversial E-1 area, where Israel intends…

By Haggai Matar March 20, 2013

Israeli soldiers use sound bombs and pepper spray to disperse Palestinian activists from a newly created village named Al Manatir on land belonging to the West Bank village of Burin, February 2, 2013. (Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Photos: Israeli forces attack Palestinian protest village

Palestinian activists create a new village, Al Manatir, on private Palestinian land near the West Bank village of Burin threatened by nearby Israeli settlements. Israeli forces violently evacuate the area, resulting in arrests and injuries. Text and photos by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org In the early morning hours of Saturday, February 2, Palestinian activists erected a…

By Activestills February 3, 2013

Activists and villagers from Burin carry a structure while erecting the Al Manatir outpost, February 1, 2013 (Photo: Irene Nasser)

Palestinians erect third West Bank outpost, are attacked by IDF, settlers

In third such project in as many weeks, hundreds of Palestinians erect new neighborhood of Burin, calling it Manatir. The activists and village residents were quickly attacked by IDF soldiers and local settlers. Update: After hours of clashes where IDF troops reportedly shot live bullets, tear gas and rubber-coated bullets inside the village of Burin,…

By Haggai Matar February 2, 2013

Palestinian activists arrive at the "Bab Al Shams" camp, E1 area, January 12, 2013. (photo: Yotam Ronen/Activestills)

Police brings down Palestinian outpost, activists resist peacefully

UPDATE, 8:30 a.m.: Mass police and army forces evacuated Bab Al-Shams overnight, following a statement made by the prosecuter general stating that the outpost is an immediate threat to the security of the region. Hundreds of soldiers and police detained the dozens of activists present, who resisted the eviction non-violently, and put them on busses…

By Haggai Matar January 12, 2013

A Palestinian tent city being constructed by the Popular Committees in the E1 area, January 11, 2013. The camp holds approximately 25 tents, and is called by the activists "Bab al-Shams" village. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills)

Palestinians build ‘settlement’ near Jerusalem, receive eviction orders from Border Police

In response to the Israeli government’s plans to build 4,000 housing units for Jewish settlers in the E1 area, Palestinians set up a new tent village called Bab Al-Shams (Gate of the Sun). Police attempts to dismantle the new village were thwarted by a temporary warrant issued by the High Court of Justice. Some 250…

By Haggai Matar January 11, 2013

Anti-occupation activist Leehee Rothschild photographed with the closed military zone orders, delivered to her and 12 other activists in order to deter them from going to demonstrations against the separation wall. (photo: Activestills)

Police ban Israeli activists from West Bank demonstrations

Thirteen anti-occupation activists were awoken by police officers early Sunday morning to receive closed military zone orders, preventing them from joining Palestinians in weekly demonstrations in the West Bank. By Leehee Rothschild Israeli police officers distributed closed military zone orders for four West Bank villages early Sunday morning to 13 prominent activists in groups such…

By +972 Magazine November 11, 2012

An Israeli solider attempts to arrest an activist during a protest in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, August 31, 2012. (photo by: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)

A week in photos: August 30-September 5

Demonstrations against the imprisonment of refugees and asylum seekers, protests in Ramallah over the high cost of living, an anti-war candlelight vigil, and more. Activestills images tell the stories of the week.

By Activestills September 6, 2012

ALSO CAN BE THUMB

The Wall, 10 years on / part 12: Where do we go from here?

Ten years have passed since Israel started building the wall, probably the largest and most expensive construction project in its history, which does not seem to be going anywhere. For four months now I’ve been presenting its story, and now it is time to offer some breaking updates, look into the future, and conclude. The…

By Haggai Matar August 10, 2012