Rachel Corrie

A Beautiful Flower Plucked by Heartless Monsters

Murder by Army Bulldozer

17 March 2003

Civilization has crushed all boundaries of decency and humanity. Today a horrifying murder was carried out by beasts in human uniforms. Had it happened in China or a Muslim country, the whole world would have been rocked by denouncements, condemnations, and threats of sanctions. But since it happened in Israel, since the murder was carried out by Israelis, the media reaction was so muted.

A beautiful young American girl Rachel Corrie is no more. While trying to protect the helpless, while standing in clear view of the Israeli army bulldozer operator's view, while knowing in her heart that no civilized or even uncivilized human being will run over her, lovely Rachel was run over in cold blood and murdered.

Today is a sad day for humanity. As usual the Israeli Army is 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. Please read :

Rafah: Rachel Corrie Murdered by Israeli Army

At about 5.20 pm today Rachel Corrie from Olympia in Washington State, USA died of her injuries in A-Najar Hospital in Rafah after being deliberately run over by an Israeli military bulldozer.

Rachel had been working as an ISM [International Solidarity Movement] activist in Rafah for seven weeks when she was killed trying to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes and property in the Hi Salaam area of Rafah.

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.

Rachel joins 1,900 Palestinians who have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers since September 2000, 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.

The photos below clearly show that Rachel was well marked, had a megaphone, and posed no threat to the bulldozer driver.

A clearly marked Rachel Corrie, holding a megaphone, confronts an Israeli army bulldozer driver attempting to demolish a Palestinian home, Rafah, Occupied Gaza, 16 March 2003. (ISM Handout)

Other peace activists tend to Rachel after being runover by the Israeli army 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 hospital, 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".

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.

Rachel Corrie (ISM Handout)

Home demolitions in Rafah Bulldozers erase densely populated areas, to make room for the new "iron wall". The families lose everything.