March 18, 2003	Tuesday	Muharram 14, 1424

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RAFAH, Gaza Strip, March 17: Rafah’s small bunch of peace activists were Monday more determined than ever to keep up their perilous protection work after one of them was killed by an Israeli bulldozer as she tried to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, US national Rachel Corrie, 23, was buried alive and then crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer as she and a group of seven young Americans and Britons from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) were acting as human shields on the flashpoint Israeli-controlled border with Egypt.

The Israeli army promised an investigation but said her death was not intentional. Rachel’s ISM colleagues, all of whom witnessed the scene, are adamant it was a case of murder.

“She was standing in front of Dr. Samir Nasrallah’s house to protect it. The bulldozer was some 30 metres away from her. She was wearing a fluorescent orange jacket and was plainly visible,” said Greg Schnabel.

“The bulldozer approached but she stood her ground. Then it pushed up a pile of dirt beneath her feet. She struggled to stay on top of the mound.

“At that point she was raised up to a level where she was probably looking the bulldozer driver in the eye,” Schnabel said, ruling out any possibility the Israeli destruction team could have failed to see the woman.—AFP