The Year in Photos: Palestine and Israel in 2015

Activestills selects the most powerful, important and moving images of 2015 — in chronological order.

Photos by: Oren Ziv, Ahmad al-Bazz, Yotam Ronen, Faiz Abu-Rmeleh, Keren Manor, Hosam Salem, Ezz Zanoun, Anne Paq, Shiraz Grinbaum

Editing: Anka Mirkin, Merieke Lauken / Activestills.org

Talal Al-Krenawi, the mayor of the Bedouin town of Rahat, displays the ammunition used by the Israeli police during clashes yesterday, on January 19, 2015. Sami Zayadna, 42, was killed during clashes that irrupted when a police car bursted into a closed area where the funeral of Sami al-Jaar was held the following day. Sami al-Jaar, 22, was gunned down during a police drug raid in Rahat the day before.  Activestills.org
Talal Al-Krenawi, the mayor of the Bedouin township of Rahat, displays ammunition fired by Israeli police during clashes that took place on January 19, 2015. Sami Zayadna, 42, was killed during clashes that erupted after a police car drove into a closed area where Sami al-Jaar’s funeral was held the following day. Al-Jaar, 22, was gunned down during a police drug raid in Rahat the previous day. The police officer responsible for the killing was eventually put back on the job. (photo: Activestills.org) | Read about the shooting death of al-Jaar here.

 

Tear gas clouds cover the cemetery of Rahat, as Israeli police that bursted into the premises during the funeral of Sami al-Jaar violently disperse the participants, Negev Desert, January 18, 2015. Sami al-Jaar, 22, was gunned down during a police drug raid in Rahat last week. During the clashes that followed his funeral, Sami Ziadna, 42, suffocated to death from tear gas inhalation and twenty-two participants were injured. Southern district police commander admitted there was an agreement that no policemen were allowed to enter the cemetery during the funeral.  Activestills.org
Clouds of tear gas cover the Rahat cemetary, after Israeli police dispersed the funeral of Sami al-Jaar, January 18, 2015. Sami Ziadna, 42, suffocated to death from tear gas inhalation during the clashes, which wounded 22 others. The Southern District police commander admitted that the police had come to an agreement with the city leadership that no officers would enter the cemetery during the funeral. (photo: Activestills.org) | Click here for more background on the incident.

 

Ronen Shoval, a candidate of the Habeit Hayehudi Party, pleads with an LGTBQ activist to leave the room where he is trying to conduct an election conference, Tel Aviv University, Januay 12, 2015. The activists, alongside public housing activists, disrupted the conference in protest of the racist and discriminatory rhetoric expressed by members of the party. Activestills.org
Ronen Shoval of the right-wing Jewish Home party argues with an LGTBQ activist during a conference put on by the party in Tel Aviv University, January 12, 2015. The activists, alongside public housing advocates, disrupted the conference to protest recent homophobic and racist comments by members of the party. Before joining Jewish Home, Shoval was the founder and leader of the far-right group Im Tirzu. (photo:Activestills.org) | For more on Shoval and Im Tirzu, click here.

 

A bulldozer is used to clear up some of the rubble in one of the destroyed quarter of Shujayea, east of Gaza city, February 11, 2015. Six month after the ceasefire that ended the Israeli 2014 summer offensive, 100, 000 Palestinians are still displaced and many live in very dire conditions. Rebuilding materials are scarce as the Gaza Strip face restrictions imposed by Israel.  Activestills.org
A bulldozer clears rubble in one of the destroyed quarters of the Shuja’iyya neighborhood in Gaza City, February 11, 2015. Six months after a ceasefire put an end to ‘Operation Protective Edge,’ 100, 000 Palestinians remained displaced, with many live in extremely dire conditions. Building materials are scarce, since the Gaza Strip is under Israeli blockade. (photo: Activestills.org) | Click here for more on the situation in Gaza following last summer’s war.

 

Ethiopian Israelis march to the direction of Ayalon highway during an Israeli Ethiopian protest against police brutality and racism, Tel Aviv, May 3, 2015.  Activestills.org
Ethiopian-Israelis march in the direction of Ayalon highway during a protest against police brutality and racism, Tel Aviv, May 3, 2015. The protests erupted following the release of a video showing a policeman brutally beating an Ethiopian-Israeli. (photo: Activestills.org) | Read more about the anti-racism and police brutality protests by Ethiopian-Israelis.

 

Mounted policeman hits a protester during an Israeli Ethiopian protest against police brutality and racism, Tel Aviv, May 3rd, 2015. Activestills.org
A policeman on horseback hits an Ethiopian-Israeli demonstrator during a protest against police brutality and racism, Tel Aviv, May 3rd, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org) | Read more about the protest movement.

 

Israel youth walk during Jerusalem Day March held by Israeli nationalists that celebrate 48 years for the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, in Jerusalem's old city, May 17, 2015. The march is termed by the nationalists the Flag March. Activestills.org
Israel youth are seen chanting during Jerusalem Day’s ‘March of the Flags.’ The march is held every year by Israeli nationalists to celebrate what they view as the ‘reunification’ of Jerusalem, Jerusalem’s Old City, May 17, 2015. The police force Palestinians in the Muslim Quarter to shut down their stores during the march, which often includes violence and racist, anti-Arab chants. (photo: Activestills.org) | For more photos from this year’s Jerusalem Day, click here. For background on the daily reality in annexed East Jerusalem, click here.

 

Protesters shout slogans as they block road during a protest against natural gas privatisation in Tel Aviv, June 27, 2015. Around 4000 people marched in protest of the government's policies regarding the privatisation of natural gas found in the Mediterranean sea.  Activestills.org
Israeli protesters block a main road during a protest against a deal to privatize Israel’s natural gas, Tel Aviv, June 27, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org) | For more on Israeli protests against to the natural gas deal, click here.

 

Palestinians cross the Qalandiya checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on their way to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, on the second Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, June 26, 2015.  Activestills.org
Palestinians cross Qalandiya checkpoint, separating the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem, on their way to pray at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during the second Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, June 26, 2015. During Ramadan, Israeli authorities temporarily loosened restrictions on movement for women and men over a certain age. (photo: Activestills.org) | For more photos from this year’s Ramadan, click here.

 

Palestinian Muslim worshippers pray overnight during Laylat al-Qadr, outside the Dome of the Rock in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, July 13, 2015. Layal al-Qadr, falls on the 27th day of the fasting month of Ramadan, marking the night Muslims believe the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed through the archangel Gabriel. Activestills.org
Muslim worshippers pray overnight during Laylat al-Qadr at the Dome of the Rock in the Al-Aqsa compound, Jerusalem’s Old City, July 13, 2015. Layal al-Qadr falls on the 27th day of the holy month of Ramadan, marking the night Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed by the archangel Gabriel. (photo: Activestills.org) | Click here for more photos from this year’s Ramadan in Palestine and Israel.

 

Israeli police forces block Palestinians at an entrance of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city, after Israeli police and authorities limited access to one of Islam's holiest sites, July 26, 2015, following clashes inside the compound. Activestills.org
Israeli Border Police prevent Palestinians from entering the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City following clashes inside, July 26, 2015. Clashes erupted this year after increasing numbers of Jewish Israelis and prominent right-wing politicians began ascending to the Temple Mount, considered the holiest place in Judaism, threatening to subvert the delicate status quo established with the Muslim authorities, in place since 1967. (photo: Activestills.org) | For more on the roots of the clashes surrounding Al-Aqsa, click here.

 

Palestinian man looks at the damaged house of the Dawabsha family, which was set on fire by Jewish settlers and where 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha died, in the West Bank village of Duma, on July 31, 2015. The Palestinian toddler was burned to death and four family members injured in an arson attack on two homes in the occupied West Bank. Activestills.org
A Palestinian man surveys the damage to the home of the Dawabshe family, who were the victims of a firebomb attack by extremist Jews in the West Bank village of Duma, July 31, 2015. The attack, which took place in the early hours of the morning, killed 18-month-old toddler Ali Sa’ad Dawabsha. His mother and father eventually succumbed to their wombs, leaving Ahmed, 4, as the only member of the family to survive. (photo: Activestills.org) | For more on the Duma murders, click here.

 

Hundreds of friends, classmates, teachers and members of the LBTGQ community participate in the funeral of Shira Banki, in Kibbutz Nachshon, August 3, 2015. Shira Banki, 16, was stabbed at the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade on July 30, 2015, by a suspect identified as an ultra-Orthodox Jew released from prison only weeks prior the attack. Shira later died of her injuries. Six another marchers were stabbed at the Parade and are still recovering.  Activestills.org
Hundreds of friends, classmates, teachers and members of the LBTGQ community participate in the funeral of Shira Banki, Kibbutz Nachshon, August 3, 2015. Banki, 16, was stabbed by an ultra-Orthodox Jew during the Jerusalem Pride Parade, July 30, 2015. The suspect, Yishai Schlissel, was released from prison only weeks prior to the attack, after serving time for a nearly-identical attack during the 2005 Pride Parade.  (photo: Activestills.org) | Click here for the ultra-Orthodox community’s response to the murder.

 

Israeli protesters wave red-painted hands and calling against racist and homophobic propaganda disseminated by Israeli government officials and members of Knesset during their speeches in protest against racism and homophobia, Tel Aviv, Israel, August 1, 2015. Protests were held tonight in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva and Gan Shmuel Junction, following recent deadly attacks on the Dawabsha family and the stabbing attack in annual Jerusalem Pride Parade.  Activestills.org
Israeli protesters wave gloves painted the color of blood while chanting against racist and homophobic propaganda by Israeli government officials and Knesset members in response to the Duma murders and the attack on the Jerusalem Pride Parade, Tel Aviv, Israel, August 1, 2015. Protests were held in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be’er Sheva and the Gan Shmuel Junction. (photo: Activestills.org) | For more photos from the protests, click here.

 

Members of the Tamimi family prevent from an Israeli solider from arresting Mohammed Tamimi, 11, during the weekly protest against the occupation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, August 28, 2015.  Activestills.org
Members of the Tamimi family prevent from an Israeli solider from arresting Mohammed Tamimi, 11, during the weekly protest against the occupation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, August 28, 2015. Photos of the arrest went viral in Israel, while the media completely ignored the Tamimi family’s version of the events. (photo: Activestills.org) | For more on the photos that introduced the world to Nabi Saleh, click here.

 

Ultra Orthodox Jews mourn at the funeral of Yeshayahu Krishevsky, that was killed during an attack by a Palestinian earlier today, in West Jerusalem, October 13, 2015. Activestills.org
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gather in Jerusalem’s Beit Israel neighborhood to mourn Hassidic Rabbi Yeshayahu Krishevsky, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Palestinian attacker, West Jerusalem, October 13, 2015. (photo: Activestills.org) | Click here for more background on the violence engulfing Jerusalem.
Israelis attend a shooting practice in a gun shop in Jerusalem on October 15, 2015. Arms shop's owners report a rise in demand for weapons and other self defence gear as violence continues around Jerusalem.  Activestills.org
Israelis take part in target practice inside a Jerusalem gun shop, October 15, 2015. Gun shop owners reported a dramatic rise in demand for weapons and other self defense weapons as violence continued to swell around Jerusalem. (photo: Activestills.org) | Do more guns make Israelis any safer? Click here for more.

 

Palestinians run from tear gas during a protest near the Gaza border, at the proximity of Nahal Oz crossing, Northern Gaza Strip, October 16, 2015. Thousands of Palestinians marched towards the border in different locations in the Gaza Strip following a call for protests for a 'day of rage'. Two Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces during the demonstrations. At least 35 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied Palestinian Territories since Oct.1, while seven Israeli have been killed.  Activestills.org
Palestinians run from tear gas during a protest near the Nahal Oz crossing, northern Gaza Strip, October 16, 2015. Thousands of Palestinians marched towards the border from different areas in the Strip following calls for a ‘day of rage.’ Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during the demonstrations. Over 140 Palestinians, 20 Israelis, one American and one asylum seeker have been killed since October 1. (photo: Activestills.org) | Click here for more on Israel’s control of the Gaza Strip.

 

Members of the Eritrean community in Israel mourn on October 21, 2015 in Levinsky park in south Tel Aviv during a memorial ceremony for Eritrean asylum seeker Habtom Zarhum who died of his injuries after he was shot by an Israeli security guard at a bus station in the southern city of Beersheba after being mistaken for an assailant in an attack that killed an Israeli soldier. Zarhum, who was kicked by an angry mob after being shot will not be recognised as an official victim of terrorism. Activestills.org
Members of the Eritrean community in Israel mourn Habtom Zarhum, an asylum seeker who was ‘lynched’ by Israelis after being mistaken for an assailant in an attack that killed an Israeli soldier at Be’er Sheva’s central bus station, October 21, 2015. Zarhum, who was kicked by an angry mob after being shot, will not be recognized by the state as an official victim of terrorism. (photo: Activestills.org) | Read more on the vigil for Zarhum here and on Israel’s asylum regime here.

 

Suha, the mother of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was murdered last year, holds a photo of her son as she sits in the district court in Jerusalem on November 30, 2015. The Jerusalem court convicted two Israeli minors of the kidnapping and burning alive of a Palestinian teenager in the run-up to the 2014 Gaza war, while the third defendant Yosef Haim Ben-David's mental state will be evaluated. Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, was abducted and killed on July 2, 2014, weeks after the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank.  Activestills.org
Suha Abu Khdeir, the mother of Palestinian teenager Muhammed Abu Khdeir, who was murdered by extremist Jews in 2014, holds a photo of her son as she sits in the Jerusalem District Court, November 30, 2015. The court convicted two Israeli minors of kidnapping and burning Mohammed alive in the run-up to the 2014 Gaza war, while the third defendant, Yosef Haim Ben-David, has yet to have his mental state evaluated. Abu Khdeir, 16, was abducted and killed on July 2, 2014, weeks after the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. (photo: Activestills.org) | Read more on the murder of Muhammed Abu Khdeir here.

 

A Palestinian youth kicks a tear gas canister during clashes with the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, November 20, 2015. More than 140 Palestinians have been killed and over 15,000 others wounded by Israeli forces since the beginning of October. (photo: Activestills.org) | Every day is a 'wave of violence' for Palestinians. | Read more here.
A Palestinian youth kicks a tear gas canister during clashes with the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, November 20, 2015. More than 140 Palestinians have been killed and over 15,000 others wounded by Israeli forces since the beginning of October. (photo: Activestills.org) | Every day is a ‘wave of violence’ for Palestinians. | Read more here.

 

Palestinian women mourn during the funeral of Palestinian youth Hadeel Awwad, in the Qalandiya refugee camp near Ramallah, December 18, 2015. Hadeel was shot dead on November 23 by an Israeli police officer following a stabbing attack in Jerusalem's central market. Nearly a month later, Israeli authorities released Hadeel's body to enable the family to bury her. Activestills.org
Palestinian women mourn during the funeral of 14-year-old Hadeel Awwad in the Qalandiya refugee camp near Ramallah, December 18, 2015. Hadeel was shot dead by an Israeli police officer after she attempted to stab passersby with scissors in Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda Market on November 23. After nearly a month, Israeli authorities released Hadeel’s body to her family for burial. (photo: Activestills.org) | Palestinians aren’t trying to go to heave — they are fleeing hell. Read more here.