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Rachel
Corrie
This document was created on Friday, February 8, 2008. The text shown below is from The Electronic Intifada. For several years, I had a link to the text on that website. Eventually, they deleted the story. I inquired twice in an attempt to get a new address for the story. I didn't receive a reply. That's why I'm printing their material here. I don't intend to violate their copyright. If they'll provide a link to the story, then I'll be happy to use the link and remove the material below. 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. Rachel and seven other ISM activists were in the Hi Es Salam area of Rafah, Gaza, trying to prevent the razing of Palestinian land and property. Present were two Israeli occupation army bulldozers and a tank. For a period of two hours, the activists played 'cat and mouse', attempting to prevent the illegal demolitions by physically blocking the passage of the two bulldozers. 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)
"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)
Picture taken between 3:00-4:00PM, 16 March 2003, Rafah, Occupied Gaza.
Rachel Corrie (L) and Nick (R) oppose the potential destruction of this
home (to the west of the Doctor's home where Rachel was killed). In the
instance pictured, the bulldozer did not stop and Rachel was pinned between
the scooped earth and the fence behind her. On this occasion, the driver
stopped before seriously injuring her. Photo by Joseph Smith (ISM Handout).
"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."
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. Last updated:
21 March 2003 (added detail to captions in images and context to second
paragraph).
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