The Tamimis were involved in protests and political agitation, demonstrating their opposition to the expansion of
Israeli settlements and detention of Palestinians.
[7] Tamimi shares similar convictions to her family's and commentators have been polarised in their assessment of her. She believes documented, organized protests against the Israeli occupation will lead to wider recognition of the Palestinian struggle for autonomy; her viral images and videos have produced a wave of public reactions in Israel and Palestine, as well as internationally.
[2][8]
At 11 years old, Tamimi was commended for her courage by
President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas for attempting to intervene during her mother's arrest in August 2012.
[9] By 2012, she had become an internationally recognized figure; as an Israeli soldier arrested her older brother, Tamimi confronted him while waving a fist, a scene that went viral and earned her an invitation to visit Turkey from then-Prime Minister of Turkey
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
[8] She gained recognition once more three years later, after being filmed biting and striking a masked Israeli soldier who was apprehending her brother for
throwing stones.
[7][10]
In December 2016, the US denied Tamimi a visa for a speaking tour titled "No Child Behind Bars/Living Resistance".[11]