Ramallah, West Bank - Ten years ago today, American peace activist and International Solidarity Movement volunteer Rachel Corrie was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to prevent a home demolition in Gaza.

 

Corrie, 23, spent less than two months in Gaza before her death, and it took an Israeli court less than that to close its investigation into the incident and declare it was an "accident".

 

The Israeli court said in a statement: "It is clear the death of Ms Corrie was not caused as a result of a direct action by the bulldozer or by its running her over.

"[Corrie] was not run over by an engineering vehicle but rather was struck by a hard object, most probably a slab of concrete which was moved or slid down while the mound of earth which she was standing behind was moved.”

The ruling, however, was in direct contradiction to eyewitness affidavits given under oath by fellow activists at the scene.

"She slipped and fell to the ground in front of the bulldozer, which notwithstanding continued its steady pace," said eyewitness Nicholas James Porter Durie.

Another at the scene, Joseph Carr, said: "The bulldozer driver and co-operator could clearly see her. Despite this, the driver continued forward, which caused her to fall back, out of view of the driver. He continued forward, and she tried to scoot back, but was quickly pulled underneath the bulldozer."