Israel judge orders Ahed Tamimi be held in custody through trial over 'gravity of offence'

The Israeli military judge ruled on Wednesday saying, "I found no alternative other than to order her detention in custody until the end of proceedings. The gravity of the offences of which she is accused do not allow an alternative to custody."

Sixteen-year-old Ahed Tamimi was arrested last month for "humiliating" an Israeli officer after a video went viral on social media platforms of her slapping a soldier who shot her cousin. She has been hailed as a hero by Palestinians who see her as bravely standing up to Israel's occupation of the West Bank.

But in Israel, the soldiers' decision not to react to the seeming provocation by Ahed stirred a debate about deterrence and drawn allegations that the army was humiliated.

Israeli social media users reacted in anger to the video of Ahed confronting the soldiers. Naftali Bennett, the right wing Israeli education minister said, "These girls should be imprisoned and locked up for life"

The Israeli army also pitched in, saying that it had been a mistake to not arrest her "immediately" as she "tried to block the soldiers' mission".

Three days after the confrontation, amid an uproar in Israel, the teenager was arrested from her home in a pre-dawn raid. 

Israeli authorities are now seeking 12 charges against Ahed Tamimi, and she faces up to 10-14 years in prison. Charges include stone-throwing, incitement and making threats and relate to five other incidents, as well as the events in the video.

Human rights groups have criticised the minor's continued detention since her arrest. 

The judge's decision on Wednesday raises the possibility she could spend months in custody before the conclusion of her case.

Representatives from the French and Swedish consulates as well as the European Union attended the hearing for Tamimi.

"The court said that because she is so dangerous there is no possibility of bail," her lawyer Gaby Lasky told reporters.

Ahed's mother was also arrested over the incident the same day, while her cousin Nour Tamimi, 20, was arrested on December 20. Nour was released on bail on January 5.

	See in pictures: Ahed Tamimi resisting occupation through the years