Palestinians and Arabs throughout the world commemorate the Nakba annually on May 15, Nakba Day. It marks the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians that accompanied the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Nakba Day has been observed since 1949 in various forms—protests, strikes, vigils, and visits to depopulated Palestinian village sites in Palestine and refugee camps throughout the region.
In 2013, Nakba Day demonstrations took place in East Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank and Israel as Palestinians marked the anniversary of the displacement. Around East Jerusalem, particularly near the Old City’s Damascus Gate and other checkpoints, clashes erupted between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces.
This photograph shows an instance during the clashes when an elderly woman confronted an armed Israeli soldier. She is one of many older Palestinian women who express their resistance through unarmed defiance, standing face-to-face with Israeli police at checkpoints, protests, or during raids. They rely not on force, but on presence, voice, and dignity. Having lived through decades of displacement, loss, and military rule, these women frequently confront authority, fearlessly speaking firmly, scolding, praying, or simply refusing to move. Given that the soldier has the power and authority to take her life without a second thought and without consequence, this stance requires exceptional courage.