| Photo story: Israeli bulldozer driver murders American peace activist |
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Posted on March 20, 2003
By Nigel Parry and Arjan El Fassed, The Electronic
Intifada, 16 March 2003
 |
| An ISM volunteer holds up Rachel Corrie's US
passport as another peace activist sits in shock, Al-Najjar Hospital,
Rafah, Occupied Gaza. Rachel was killed by an Israeli bulldozer driver
while protesting the demolition of a Palestinian home. (Mohammad
Al-Moghair) |
On 16 March 2003 in Rafah, occupied Gaza, 23-year-old American peace activist
Rachel Corrie from Olympia, Washington, was murdered by an Israeli bulldozer
driver. Rachel was in Gaza opposing the bulldozing of a Palestinian home as a
volunteer with the International
Solidarity Movement.
An e-mailed report from the Palestine
Monitor stated:
 |
| Rachel Corrie (ISM Handout) |
"Rachel Corey [sic], 23 years old from the state of Washington, was
killed while she was trying to prevent Israeli army bulldozers from destroying
a Palestinian home. Other foreigners who were with her said the driver of the
bulldozer was aware that Rachel was there, and continued to destroy the house.
Initially he dropped sand and other heavy debris on her, then the bulldozer
pushed her to the ground where it proceeded to drive over her, fracturing both
of her arms, legs and skull. She was transferred to hospital, where she later
died. Another foreigner was also injured in the attack and has been
hospitalized - at this stage his nationality is unknown." (15 March 2003)
A press release from the International Solidarity Movement stated that:
"Rachel had been staying in Palestinian homes threatened with illegal
demolition, and today Rachel was standing with other non-violent international
activists in front of a home scheduled for illegal demolition. According to
witnesses, Rachel was run over twice by the Israeli military bulldozer in its
process of demolishing the Palestinian home. Witnesses say that Rachel was
clearly visible to the bulldozer driver, and was doing nothing to provoke an
attack." (15 March 2003)
The photos below clearly show that Rachel was well marked, had a megaphone, and
posed no threat to the bulldozer driver.
 |
| Rachel Corrie confronts the bulldozer driver.
(ISM Handout) |
 |
| A clearly marked Rachel Corrie, holding a
megaphone, confronts an Israeli bulldozer driver attempting to demolish
a Palestinian home, Rafah, Occupied Gaza, 16 March 2003. (ISM Handout) |
 |
| Other peace activists tend to Rachel after being
injured by the Israeli bulldozer driver, Rafah, Occupied Gaza, 16 March
2003. (ISM Handout) |
 |
| Rachel Corrie lies on the ground fatally injured
by the Israeli bulldozer, Rafah, Occupied Gaza, 16 March 2003. (ISM
Handout) |
 |
| Rachel in Najjar hostpital, Rafah, Occupied Gaza.
Ha'aretz newspaper reported that Dr. Ali Musa, a doctor at Al-Najjar,
stated that the cause of death was "skull and chest
fractures". (Mohammad
Al-Moghair) |
A later report from ISM Media Coordinator Michael Shaikh in Beit Sahour offered
more details about the events:
"The confrontation between the ISM and the Israeli Army had been under
way for two hours when Rachel was run over. Rachel and the other activists had
clearly identified themselves as unarmed international peace activists
throughout the confrontation.
The Israeli Army are attempting to dishonour her memory by claiming that
Rachel was killed accidentally when she ran in front of the bulldozer.
Eye-witnesses to the murder insist that this is totally untrue. Rachel was
sitting in the path of the bulldozer as it advanced towards her. When the
bulldozer refused to stop or turn aside she climbed up onto the mound of dirt
and rubble being gathered in front of it wearing a fluorescent jacket to look
directly at the driver who kept on advancing. The bulldozer continued to
advance so that she was pulled under the pile of dirt and rubble. After she
had disappeared from view the driver kept advancing until the bulldozer was
completely on top of her. The driver did not lift the bulldozer blade and so
she was crushed beneath it. Then the driver backed off and the seven other ISM
activists taking part in the action rushed to dig out her body. An ambulance
rushed her to A-Najar hospital where she died."
 |
| Colleagues of Rachel comfort each other in Najjar
hostpital, Rafah, Occupied Gaza. Ha'aretz newspaper reported that
a second activist was also injured at the same location. (Mohammad
Al-Moghair) |
"This is a regrettable accident," Israeli Defence Forces [sic]
spokesman Captain Jacob Dallal was reported as saying in Ha'aretz
newspaper. "We are dealing with a group of protesters who were acting very
irresponsibly, putting everyone in danger."
Members of the Israeli army and associated Israeli settler paramilitary units
have been responsible for the killing of 2,181 Palestinians and the injuring of
another 22,218 between 29 September 2000 and 14 March 2003.
In addition to the killing of Rachel Corrie by the bulldozer driver, Israeli
troops have shot and killed several other internationals in different incidents
during the Intifada: German doctor Harald Fischer, Italian cameraman Rafaeli
Ciriello, and British
United Nations worker Iain Hook.
Nigel Parry and Arjan El Fassed are two founders of the Electronic Intifada.
Michael Brown and Ken Harper also contributed to this report.
Click
here to view the full; article at Electron Intifada.
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