The Month in Photos: Marking the past, demanding a better future

Palestinians commemorate the Nakba, right-wing Israelis celebrate the capture of East Jerusalem, modern-day migrants demand their human rights across the globe, and Palestinian villagers struggle with restrictions on their movement.

A Palestinian youth gestures toward Israeli soldiers during a protest against the Israeli Separation Wall on Nakba Day, Nil'in, West Bank, May 15, 2015.
A Palestinian youth gestures toward Israeli soldiers during a protest against the Israeli Separation Wall on Nakba Day, Nil’in, West Bank, May 15, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Palestinians take part in an event to commemorate the Nakba in the destroyed village of Lajjun in northern Israel, May 15, 2015.  Nakba, (literally, “catastrophe”) is the Arabic term given to the forced displacement of some 750,000 Palestinian refugees from 500 communities by Zionist forces before, during and after the 1948 War.
Palestinians take part in an event to commemorate the Nakba in the destroyed village of Lajjun in northern Israel, May 15, 2015. Nakba, (literally, “catastrophe”) is the Arabic term given to the forced displacement of some 750,000 Palestinian refugees from 500 communities by Zionist forces before, during and after the 1948 War. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Children throws stones at Israeli forces during a protest on Nakba Day, Kafr Qaddum, West Bank, May 15, 2015.
Children throws stones at Israeli forces during a protest on Nakba Day, Kafr Qaddum, West Bank, May 15, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Palestinians pray during a protest against the Israeli Separation Wall that also marks Nakba Day, Nil'in, West Bank, May 15, 2015.
Palestinians pray during a protest against the Israeli Separation Wall that also marks Nakba Day, Nil’in, West Bank, May 15, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Nidal Eshtayeh, a photojournalist for Xinhua News Agency sits in his house after he was wounded by rubber-coated steel bullet shot at his face by Israeli soldiers while he covered a peaceful Palestinian demonstration on Nakba Day at the Israeli military checkpoint at Huwwara. Salem village, West Bank, May 16, 2015.
Nidal Eshtayeh, a photojournalist for Xinhua News Agency sits in his house after he was wounded by rubber-coated steel bullet shot at his face by Israeli soldiers while he covered a peaceful Palestinian demonstration on Nakba Day at the Israeli military checkpoint at Huwwara. Salem village, West Bank, May 16, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

An Israel youth covers his face with with a flag during the "Jerusalem Day" march held by Israeli nationalists to celebrate 48 years of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, May 17, 2015.
An Israel youth covers his face with with a flag during the “Jerusalem Day” march held by Israeli nationalists to celebrate 48 years of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, May 17, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Right-wing and left-wing Israeli demonstrators face off during the annual "Jerusalem Day" march held by Israeli nationalists to celebrate the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, May 17, 2015.
Right-wing and left-wing Israeli demonstrators face off during the annual “Jerusalem Day” march held by Israeli nationalists to celebrate the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, May 17, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Israeli policemen arrest a Palestinian youth during the "Jerusalem Day" march held by Israeli nationalists to celebrate 48 years of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, May 17, 2015.
Israeli policemen arrest a Palestinian youth during the “Jerusalem Day” march held by Israeli nationalists to celebrate 48 years of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, May 17, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Palestinians from the West Bank village of Al Zaim call for the opening of a gate in the Israeli Separation Wall gate that controls movement from Jerusalem to their village, May 8, 2015. The gate was kept closed by Israeli authorities for over two weeks.
Palestinians from the West Bank village of Al Zaim call for the opening of a gate in the Israeli Separation Wall gate that controls movement from Jerusalem to their village, May 8, 2015. The gate was kept closed by Israeli authorities for over two weeks. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

A Palestinian farmer argues with Israeli soldiers on the western side of the Separation Wall in Falamya village, West Bank, May 17, 2015. Farmers from four villages: Kafr Jammal, Kafr Zibad, Kafr Abbush and Kafr Sur have been informed that access to their agricultural lands through this gate will be closed by Israeli forces for three days, starting May 17. Farmers said they have been forced to go through another gate in the village of Jayyous, which is about 15 kilometers from the gate at Falamya.
A Palestinian farmer argues with Israeli soldiers on the western side of the Separation Wall in Falamya village, West Bank, May 17, 2015. Farmers from four villages: Kafr Jammal, Kafr Zibad, Kafr Abbush and Kafr Sur have been informed that access to their agricultural lands through this gate will be closed by Israeli forces for three days, starting May 17. Farmers said they have been forced to go through another gate in the village of Jayyous, which is about 15 kilometers from the gate at Falamya. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Ethiopian Israelis shout slogans in Rabin Square in center Tel Aviv during a protest against police brutality and racism, May 18, 2015.
Ethiopian Israelis shout slogans in Rabin Square in center Tel Aviv during a protest against police brutality and racism, May 18, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Imran Abu Dheim to the cemetery during his funeral in East Jerusalem, May 21, 2015. Abu Dheim was shot to death after running over two border policemen in East Jerusalem.
Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Imran Abu Dheim to the cemetery during his funeral in East Jerusalem, May 21, 2015. Abu Dheim was shot to death after running over two border policemen in East Jerusalem. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

The main water valve of Qarawat Bani Hassan village, near Salfit, is seen locked by Israeli authorities to limit the water supply to area villages, West Bank, May 23, 2015. According to the municipal council of Qarawat Bani Hassan, the portion for each villager has decreased to two liters per day as the village receives only 97 cubic meters per hour. The municipal council said the Israeli authorities did not provide a reason for the situation.
The main water valve of Qarawat Bani Hassan village, near Salfit, is seen locked by Israeli authorities to limit the water supply to area villages, West Bank, May 23, 2015. According to the municipal council of Qarawat Bani Hassan, the portion for each villager has decreased to two liters per day as the village receives only 97 cubic meters per hour. The municipal council said the Israeli authorities did not provide a reason for the situation. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

An activist holds a banner during a protest by migrants, refugees and supporting activists against the European agency Frontex, in Warsaw, Poland, May 21, 2015. The march marked a decade since Frontex, the European agency for the management of external borders of the European Union was created. Frontex has been criticized for its role in militarizing the control of borders and failing to assist migrants. More than 1,700 people have died since the beginning of 2015 while trying to reach Europe.
An activist holds a banner during a protest by migrants, refugees and supporting activists against the European agency Frontex, in Warsaw, Poland, May 21, 2015. The march marked a decade since Frontex, the European agency for the management of external borders of the European Union was created. Frontex has been criticized for its role in militarizing the control of borders and failing to assist migrants. More than 1,700 people have died since the beginning of 2015 while trying to reach Europe. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Activists lie wrapped in white sheets to symbolize migrants who died in the Mediterranean, during a protest of migrants, refugees and supporting activists against the European agency Frontex, in Warsaw, Poland, May 21, 2015.
Activists lie wrapped in white sheets to symbolize migrants who died in the Mediterranean, during a protest of migrants, refugees and supporting activists against the European agency Frontex, in Warsaw, Poland, May 21, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Activists gather hundreds of paper boats in front of the Norwegian parliament building in Oslo in an action to demand that greater action be taken to rescue refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea, May 4, 2015.
Activists gather hundreds of paper boats in front of the Norwegian parliament building in Oslo in an action to demand that greater action be taken to rescue refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea, May 4, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Activists with giant puppets preform political theater during a protest at the Amada checkpoint, Arizona, as part of a day of action against the militarization of the borderlands in Arizona, May 27, 2015.
Activists with giant puppets preform political theater during a protest at the Amada checkpoint, Arizona, as part of a day of action against the militarization of the borderlands in Arizona, May 27, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

Flags in the hair of a solidarity protester bear the message: "Recognize the Palestinian state!" at a rally in front of Norway's parliament building, Oslo, May 27, 2015. A proposal for Norway to recognize Palestine was put forward by the Socialist Left party but was voted down. As of October 2014, 135 member states of the United Nations and two non-member states have recognized the State of Palestine.
Flags in the hair of a solidarity protester bear the message: “Recognize the Palestinian state!” at a rally in front of Norway’s parliament building, Oslo, May 27, 2015. A proposal for Norway to recognize Palestine was put forward by the Socialist Left party but was voted down. As of October 2014, 135 member states of the United Nations and two non-member states have recognized the State of Palestine. (photo: Activestills.org)

 

A man looks at an Activestills street exhibition on Gaza which was damaged in Marseille, France, May 8, 2015. The photo exhibitions, which were put in various locations in the city, featured photos taken by Anne Paq for a project about families who were killed (partially or entirely) during the Israel's 2014 military offensive on Gaza.
A man looks at an Activestills street exhibition on Gaza which was damaged in Marseille, France, May 8, 2015. The photo exhibitions, which were put in various locations in the city, featured photos taken by Anne Paq for a project about families who were killed (partially or entirely) during the Israel’s 2014 military offensive on Gaza. (photo: Activestills.org)