March 16, 2003
STATEMENT ON THE MURDER OF RACHEL CORRIE
In Rafah, Gaza Strip today Rachel Corrie, a 23-year old American woman
from Olympia, Washington, who was a volunteer with the International Solidarity
Movement, was killed by the Israeli Army. Rachel was standing 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 up - effectively
running over her again. The seven other ISM activists taking part in the
action rushed to dig out her body. An ambulance rushed her to Al-Najar
Hospital where she died.
The Israeli Army consistently bulldozes Palestinian homes, particularly
in Rafah, where over 100 homes have been demolished in the last two years.
The International Solidarity Movement - both Palestinian and international
citizens - calls upon the international community to break the silence
around Israel's grotesque human rights abuses. International civilians
are in the Occupied Palestinian Territories attempting to protect Palestinian
human rights and lives precisely because formal international bodies have
refused to take action to do so. Dozens of Palestinian civilians are being
systematically murdered weekly, and today, a beautiful, conscientious American
defender of human rights was killed trying to protect the home of a Palestinian
family.
This murder, along with Israel's continued destruction of Palestinian
homes must be strongly condemned by the United States and the United Nations
and they must insist that Israel abide by international law and UN Resolutions.
The International Solidarity Movement also calls upon the United States
government to conduct its own independent investigation into this incident
and to take responsibility for the manner in which the Israeli government
is using the $2.2 billion in military aid that we grant to Israel per year.
This money and US-made weaponry is daily being used by the Israeli military
to harm innocent civilians. The bulldozer that killed Rachel Corrie was
an American-made Caterpillar D-9 bulldozer.
The murder of Rachel Corrie was clearly NOT an accident. Eyewitnesses
report that the bulldozer driver was able to see Rachel, and that they
were shouting to the driver to stop. The Israeli government and army continue
to blame the victims of violence carried out by the Israeli Army for their
own suffering. Israel must be accountable for this criminal act and all
criminal acts it is carrying out on a daily basis in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
The International Solidarity Movement greatly mourns the loss of Rachel
Corrie and extends its heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
We pledge to continue actively working for the ideals of freedom and justice
that Rachel died for.
Huwaida Arraf
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
www.palsolidarity.org
