Israeli army absolved of activist killing

An Israeli court has ruled that its military are blameless in American activist Rachel Corrie’s death in March 2003.

Corrie, at the time 23, was taking part in a demonstration against the Israeli army’s demolition of houses in Rafah, Gaza when she was crushed by an army bulldozer.

Her family accused Israel of intentionally and unlawfully killing their daughter and launched a civil case after a military investigation cleared the army of responsibility.

Judge Oded Gershon declared the death was a “regrettable accident”, invoking a clause which absolved the army as the incident occurred in a war-time situation, and also said "She did not distance herself from the area, as any thinking person would have done."

Rachel’s mother, Cindy Corrie denounced the ruling and said,
"I believe that this was a bad day not only for our family but a bad day for human rights, for humanity, the rule of law and also for the country of Israel,"
"Rachel was a human being and we as her family deserved accountability,"

"The (Israeli) state has worked extremely hard so that the truth behind what happened to my daughter is not exposed."

See report from Reuters here.

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