Rachel Corrie, American author and activist (d. 2003)

Rachel Aliene Corrie, born on April 10, 1979, in Olympia, Washington, was an American activist and diarist whose life tragically ended on March 16, 2003. Her death in the southern Gaza Strip became a flashpoint in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drawing international attention to the plight of civilians and the actions of combatants during the volatile period of the Second Palestinian Intifada.

A Life Devoted to Activism

As a senior at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Rachel Corrie embarked on an independent-study project that led her to the Gaza Strip. Her ambition was to foster a connection between her hometown and Rafah, a Palestinian city in southern Gaza, through a sister-city initiative. This deeply personal and academic pursuit reflected her broader commitment to human rights and international solidarity. Upon her arrival in Gaza, she joined the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a pro-Palestinian group known for its non-violent direct action. ISM volunteers, predominantly international activists, often positioned themselves as human shields in areas deemed vulnerable to military operations, hoping their presence would deter actions like house demolitions, which were a common feature of the conflict.

The Context in Gaza: A Region on Edge

Corrie's time in Gaza coincided with the height of the Second Palestinian Intifada, a period of intense violence and upheaval that gripped the region from late 2000. The Gaza Strip, an already densely populated and blockaded territory, was a focal point of this conflict, characterized by frequent clashes, military incursions, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. One of the contentious issues was the Israeli military's practice of demolishing Palestinian homes. According to Israeli authorities, these demolitions were carried out strategically to eliminate tunnels used for weapons smuggling, a critical security concern given the continuous threat of militant activities. Conversely, human rights groups, including those aligned with Corrie's views, vehemently criticized these actions, asserting that they often constituted collective punishment against Palestinian families, leading to widespread displacement and exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population.

The Tragic Incident and Immediate Aftermath

On March 16, 2003, Rachel Corrie was in the Rafah area, standing in the path of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) armored bulldozer. She and other ISM activists were attempting to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home. In a moment that would forever be shrouded in controversy, she was crushed to death by the bulldozer. The exact nature of her death and the culpability of the bulldozer operator immediately became subjects of intense dispute. Fellow ISM protestors present at the scene maintained that the Israeli soldier operating the massive machinery deliberately ran over Corrie, asserting that she was clearly visible and intentionally targeted. In stark contrast, Israeli eyewitnesses and subsequent official accounts argued that it was a tragic accident, citing the inherent limitations in visibility from the operator's cab of such large armored vehicles. They contended that the bulldozer driver simply could not see Corrie in his blind spot.

Investigations and Lingering Questions

Following the incident, the Israeli army launched its own investigation into Rachel Corrie's death. This military inquiry concluded that her death was indeed an accident, reaffirming the claim that the bulldozer driver could not have seen Corrie due to the restricted field of vision from the armored vehicle's cockpit. However, this finding was met with significant criticism from a chorus of international and Israeli human rights organizations. Prominent groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, alongside Israeli organizations B'Tselem and Yesh Din, expressed serious reservations about the thoroughness, transparency, and impartiality of the military investigation. They often pointed to concerns about the lack of an independent review and the reliance on internal military protocols, suggesting that the investigation fell short of international standards for accountability.

A Legal Battle for Accountability

In 2005, Rachel Corrie's parents, Cindy and Craig Corrie, pursued a civil lawsuit against the state of Israel. This legal action was a quest not for monetary gain—they sued for a symbolic one US dollar in damages—but for acknowledgment of responsibility and a credible investigation. They charged Israel with failing to conduct a full and trustworthy inquiry into their daughter's death and asserted that the state was directly responsible for her demise, contending that she had either been intentionally killed or that the soldiers involved had acted with reckless neglect. After years of legal proceedings, an Israeli court in Haifa rejected their suit in August 2012. The court upheld the conclusions of the 2003 military investigation, ruling that the Israeli government was not responsible for Corrie's death, classifying it as a tragic operational accident. This ruling, much like the initial military investigation, drew sharp criticism from various human rights organizations and activists worldwide, who viewed it as a failure of justice. Undeterred, Corrie's parents appealed the decision, and their appeal was heard on May 21, 2014, by the Supreme Court of Israel. However, on February 14, 2015, the Supreme Court ultimately rejected their appeal, bringing the legal battle within Israel to a close.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rachel Corrie

Who was Rachel Corrie?
Rachel Aliene Corrie was an American activist and diarist from Olympia, Washington, born in 1979. She became known for her pro-Palestinian activism and her tragic death in the Gaza Strip in 2003.
What was the International Solidarity Movement (ISM)?
The ISM is a pro-Palestinian organization that engages in non-violent direct action. Its volunteers, often international activists, aim to raise awareness about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and often physically intervene to protect Palestinians or prevent military actions like house demolitions.
What was Rachel Corrie doing in Gaza?
Rachel Corrie went to Gaza as part of a college independent-study project aimed at connecting her hometown of Olympia with the Palestinian city of Rafah as sister cities. While there, she joined ISM activists in efforts to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes by the Israeli military.
How did Rachel Corrie die?
Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) armored bulldozer on March 16, 2003, in the southern Gaza Strip. She was attempting to prevent a house demolition at the time.
Were the circumstances of her death clear?
No, the circumstances of her death have been highly contested. Fellow activists claimed the bulldozer operator deliberately ran her over, while Israeli accounts and investigations concluded it was an accident due to limited visibility from the bulldozer's cab.
What were the findings of the investigations into her death?
An internal Israeli army investigation concluded that her death was an accident, citing the bulldozer operator's limited visibility. This conclusion was upheld by an Israeli civil court in 2012 and later by the Supreme Court of Israel in 2015, which rejected her parents' lawsuit and appeal.
Why were the investigations and rulings criticized?
Numerous human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, along with Israeli groups like B'Tselem, criticized the military investigation and subsequent court rulings for lacking independence, transparency, and thoroughness, suggesting they did not meet international standards for accountability.
Did Rachel Corrie's family take legal action?
Yes, in 2005, her parents filed a civil lawsuit against the state of Israel, seeking a symbolic one US dollar in damages. They charged Israel with failing to conduct a full and credible investigation and with responsibility for her death, alleging intentional killing or reckless neglect by the soldiers. Their suit was ultimately rejected by Israeli courts.