On Tuesday, the Israeli court in the town of Hafia ruled that the death of American activist, Rachel Corrie, who was smashed to death by an Israeli military bulldozer in 2003 while she was protesting the demolition of homes on the Gaza Strip was accidental.
The parents of the 23-year-old filed suit against the Israeli Ministry of Defense to hold them responsible for her death and also filed for damages amounting to $1 as a symbolic gesture. Judge Oded Gershon ruled that the incident was accidental and that the soldier operating the bulldozer or the ministry of defense could not be held accountable for the her death.
Judge Gershon said, "She chose to put herself in danger...She could have easily distanced herself from the danger like any reasonable person would," as reported by the New York Times.
According to CNN News Corrie's parents are planning to appeal the decision to the nation's Supreme Court. Mother of the victim, Cindy Corrie told CNN reporters, "I believe this was a bad day not only for our family, but a bad day for human rights, for humanity, for the rule of law and also for the country of Israel...Rachel's right to life and dignity were violated by the Israeli military."
Corrie was a student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington when she joined International Solidarity Movement in January in 2003, where she was protesting the demolition of Palestinian homes on the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military. She was killed during one of these protests. Since her death Corrie has become a symbolic figure for the Palestinians in their pursuit to self-determination.
Prominent member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hanan Ashrawi released a statement Tuesday expression anger over the court's decision. Ashrawi said, "Palestinians as a whole will continue to love Rachel and cherish her memory," as reported by the New York Times.
Watch the of the verdict here.
