Palestinian lawyer talks about iconic photo of tear gas kick

One of the most memorable images of the current Israeli-Palestinian confrontations shows a young Palestinian lawyer in dark shades, a suit and formal legal robe as he kicks away an Israeli tear gas canister, his legs flying high above billowing white gas. Part of the appeal is the unexpected: Palestinians clashing with Israeli soldiers are typically masked stone-throwers in scruffy jeans, not nattily dressed professionals. But Hassan Ajaj, the lawyer, believes the Oct. 12 image by Associated Press photographer Majdi Mohammed — with more than 1.8 million views on one photo-sharing site alone — also resonated because his spontaneous act of defiance expressed the extent of Palestinian frustration.

It shows that as a Palestinian lawyer, I am part of my people, part of the Palestinian wish for liberation.

Lawyer Hassan Ajaj

The current round of confrontations, one of many in the long-running conflict, erupted in mid-September. Since then, 11 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings, and 68 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including 42 said by Israel to have been involved in attacks or attempted attacks. On Oct. 12, dozens of members of the Palestinian Bar Association marched from the Ramallah courthouse to the traffic circle for what Ajaj said was a peaceful march, without stone-throwing. Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas to stop the lawyers from advancing, said Ajaj. Some of the marchers were overcome by tear gas. His now famous punt was spontaneous. “I just wanted to kick it (the tear gas) away,” he said.