BETHLEHEM, July 26: The mural appeared on the separation wall in Bethlehem just days before the 17-year-old activist is due to be released.
An unknown artist has painted a mural of Palestinian resistance icon Ahed Tamimi on the Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem, just as her father said she might be released on Sunday after almost eight months of unjust imprisonment.
Media outlets had speculated about the artist's identity, some describing him as Palestinian, but he has since come out as Italian street artist Agostino Chirwin. Also known as 'Jorit Agoch,' he has a reputation for hyper realistic murals of activists, politicians and other campaigners.
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While painting the 13-foot mural, Chirwin obscured his identity by keeping a black cloth wrapped around his head.
Ahed Tamimi's portrait was painted next to a mural of dead Palestinian nurse Razan Al-Najar, in Bethlehem. July 25, 2018. Photo | Reuters
Ahmad Arabi, an activist from the Popular Resistance committee in Bethlehem, said the mural was part of the preparations to celebrate Tamimi's release.
Tamimi, 17, recently told Egyptian news outlet Al-Ahram Gate she had completed her high-school diploma in prison and that she was getting ready to apply to the Law or Political Science faculty.
The streets of Bethlehem, Nabih Saleh, the West Bank and occupied Palestine in general are readying to welcome Tamimi, who was sentenced to eight months in prison after a video of her slapping and yelling at an Israeli soldier who had entered the family home went viral.
Agoch is known for his disctinctive, hyperrealistic murals. July 25, 2018. Photo | Reuters
Tamimi's 15-year-old cousin, Mohammed Tamimi, had been shot in the head with a rubber-coated steel bullet a day before. Tamimi was charged with aggravated assault, obstructing the work of soldiers, and incitement on January 2.
"The Israeli authorities usually do not inform the detainee or his family of the date of release, but I think she will get a decision" to reduce her detention by 21 days, said Bassem Tamimi, her father.
