Today, Sunday 16 March 2014, marks the eleventh anniversary ofthe death of American peace activist, RachelCorrie.
Corrie was 23 years old when she was killed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) while trying to provide protection for Palestinian families whose houses were threatened by destruction in the south of Gaza.
Corriewas a resident of the State ofWashington, USA.
On 25 February 2003, she arrived in Rafah town with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights reiterates its condemnation of the Israeli killing of Rachel Corrie and asserts that the failure to criminally investigate this case and bring the perpetrators to justice represents Israel’s insistence on providing immunity to its soldiers in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
Corrie's familyfiled a civil lawsuit beforetheHaifa District Court.
The court rejected the case.
At approximately 4:45pm on Sunday, 16 March 2003, the IOF killed Rachel Corrieas she attempted to prevent Israeli bulldozers from demolishing Palestinian homes in the As-Salam neighborhood in Rafah town.
The Israeli soldier who was driving the bulldozer killed Corrie by running over her twice as she stood before it.
She was wearing civilian clothes and a reflector jacket to ensure the IOF soldiers knew there was a peace activist present.
She was using a megaphone to speak to the bulldozer driver.
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The driver continued to move forward until Rachel was completely buried under the bulldozer.
Despitethe clear evidence in Corrie's case, the large number of eyewitnesses,photos that show the IOF killing of Corrie, and the relentless efforts of Corrie's family and human rights organizations and activists to achieve justice, sadly it is still absent.
On 28 August 2013, an Israeli court rejected the case and therefore the claim that the State of Israel should pay damages for the death.
Al Mezan asserts that the Israeli justice system proved once again its failure to achieve justice.
The entrenchment of Israel’s politicized approach in the Israeli judicial system is continued as the IOF remains immune - even when the forces commit serious violations - to defend Israel’s image and interests at the expense of the rule of law and justice.
Al Mezan reiterates its strong condemnation of the killing of Rachel Corrie as a clear violation of international law and human rights principles.
Al Mezan calls on the international community to ensure justice and respect for human rights standards and to confront Israel’s policy of impunity to deter further violations from being committed in the future.
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