Muna el-Kurd (Arabic: منى الكرد; born 15 May 1998) is a Palestinian activist based in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.[1][2] Alongside her twin brother, Mohammed el-Kurd, she drew international attention for her involvement in the Sheikh Jarrah controversy, which served as a key trigger for the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis. She has regularly protested Israel's eviction of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and gained prominence for her activism on a variety of social media channels.
Muna el-Kurd | |
|---|---|
منى الكرد | |
 Muna el-Kurd in 2022 | |
| Born | 15 May 1998 |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
| Known for | Palestinian activism |
| Relatives | Mohammed el-Kurd (twin brother) |
Early life
El-Kurd was born into a family of Palestinian Muslims in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, Israeli-occupied West Bank on 15 May 1998.[3] From a young age, she and her family experienced threats of eviction from their home by Israeli authorities.[4][5]
In 2009, part of her family's home in Sheikh Jarrah was seized by Israeli settlers.[6][7]
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
In 2021, Muna's family was among 11 other Palestinian families who were threatened with eviction from their home per a decision by an Israeli court (see Sheikh Jarrah controversy).[4][8] They were given 30 days to leave the home, but the family's lawyer filed an appeal with the district court.[9] Tensions between Israeli authorities and Palestinians in East Jerusalem eventually triggered the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.
On 6 June 2021, Muna and her brother Mohammed were arrested by Israeli police;[10][11] they were later released on the same day after being detained for several hours.[12]
During this period, both Muna and Mohammed were named on TIME 100.[13][14]
References
- ^ "Israel arrests Palestinian activist Muna el-Kurd in East Jerusalem". BBC News. 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Israel releases Sheikh Jarrah activists after hours-long arrests". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Save Sheikh Jarrah activist Muna El-Kurd arrested in Israeli police raid". SBS News. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ a b "Israeli police detain Palestinian activist twins from East Jerusalem". Reuters. 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "The resilient women of Sheikh Jarrah: 'We will never leave'". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah becomes emblem of Palestinian struggle". Reuters. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Alfred, Charlotte (January 29, 2016). "Young Palestinian Poet Brings To Life The Troubles Of Jerusalem". HuffPost. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ "Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah: The land dispute in the eye of a storm". BBC News. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Kingsley, Patrick (2021-05-09). "Israeli Court Delays Expulsion of Palestinian Families in East Jerusalem". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Israel arrests Palestinian activist Muna el-Kurd in East Jerusalem". BBC News. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Israeli police detain Palestinian activist twins from East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah". BBC News. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Israel releases Sheikh Jarrah activists after hours-long arrests". Al Jazeera News. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Sheikh Jarrah's El-Kurd twins make TIME top 100 list". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
- ^ "Muna and Mohammed El-Kurd: The 100 Most Influential People of 2021". Time. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
