Article by Katherine Gallagher, Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights

[Link to the full article at The World Post]

ARTICLE EXCERPT: Twelve years ago today, 23-year-old U.S. human rights defender Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli military bulldozer while peacefully protecting Palestinian homes in Gaza from demolition. For these past 12 years Rachel’s family has sought accountability for her killing, while also shining a spotlight on Israel’s ongoing violations in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Despite the efforts of the Corrie family — and Palestinian civil society — the record during these years is one of ongoing impunity. We have seen more violations of international law by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip: In “Operation Cast Lead” (2008 to 2009), an estimated 80 percent of the more than 1,400 Palestinians killed were civilians, and this past summer more than 2,130 Palestinians, including more than 500 children, were killed during a 50-day assault on Gaza. According to the United Nations, at least 142 Palestinian families had three or more members killed in single Israeli attacks. Seventy-three Israelis, of whom seven were civilians, were killed during the conflict last summer. Illegal settlement construction has continued in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as has the crackdown by Israel of peaceful protests in the occupied Palestinian territory. …

[Read full article at The World Post]