GAZA, Jan 4: Gunmen briefly seized the parents of slain US activist Rachel Corrie as they visited the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, but relented after being confronted by a member of the security forces.

They said Craig and Cindy Corrie, whose daughter was fatally run down by an Israeli bulldozer as she tried to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian building in 2003, were at the home of a friend in the Gaza town of Rafah when the gunmen arrived.

The gunmen appeared set on kidnapping the two Americans, witnesses said. Gaza has seen a rash of foreigner abductions since Israel withdrew from the territory in September after 38 years of occupation.

But a local security official intervened and the gunmen beat a retreat.

“A neighbour known to be a member of the security forces told the gunmen to leave,” a witness said.

The Corries’ host, Samir Nasrallah, said they left Gaza after the incident. The couple is from Olympia, Washington.—Reuters