- The family of Rachel Corrie, a pro-Palestinian activist
killed by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer in Rafah two years ago, sued
the State of Israel and the IDF for damages in the Haifa District Court
on Tuesday.
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- The 24-year-old Corrie was killed on March 16, 2003 when
she tried to block an IDF bulldozer from demolishing a Palestinian house
near the Philadelphi Route, the strip of land in the Gaza Strip bordering
Egypt.
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- An IDF investigation ruled the incident was an accident
and that the driver did not see Corrie, and the military prosecutor's office
decided not to press charges in connection with Corrie's death.
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- Corrie's parents, brother, and sister, who are represented
by Umm al-Fahm attorney Hussein Abu-Hussein, argue Corrie was killed despite
the fact that she was wearing bright clothing and had identified herself
as an activist with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement.
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- Corrie's family argues that the bulldozer driver intentionally
used unreasonable force. According to the family, there was no fighting
in the area at the time and there was no threat to soldiers' lives.
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- The family has asked for roughly $324 thousand in direct
damages, as well as punitive damages. They also said they have yet to receive
all of the material from the IDF investigation into the matter.
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