Rafah | The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice

Peace Vigil for Palestine – week 35

Posted on June 4, 2024

The peace vigils for Palestine continue weekly in Olympia. This week we gather for the 35th week since Israel began it’s most recent attack on Gaza.

As conditions become more dire in Gaza it’s increasingly important to remain visible for Palestinian rights. Join us advocating for peace and a permanent ceasefire, and as we demand that Rafah is a “red line” for President Biden and that as a country we stop sending weapons to Israel that are used to attack Palestinians.

Thanks to Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation for hosting these vigils and inviting us to share this space as we work for peace.

Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th – Family to Hold Press Conference in Haifa

Posted on August 21, 2012

(Haifa, Israel – August 21, 2012) – The verdict in the civil lawsuit against the State of Israel for the killing of peace activist Rachel Corrie over nine years ago will be announced August 28, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. at the Haifa District Court.

Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American from Olympia, Washington, was crushed to death March 16, 2003, by an Israeli military Caterpillar D9-R bulldozer while nonviolently protesting demolition of Palestinian civilian homes in Rafah, Gaza.

Download: Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th (9518 downloads ) Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th (9147 downloads ) Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th (8523 downloads )

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Memorial of Rachel Corrie in Rafah

Posted on March 26, 2012

Rachel Corrie Memorial in Rafah, Gaza. Photo by Jeff Bright.

On Sunday 19th March, We travelled to Rafah area of Gaza to remember Rachel , whose 9th Anniversary fell on March 16th. Rachel was a 23-year-old American peace activist from Olympia, Washington, who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer on 16 March 2003, while undertaking nonviolent direct action to protect the home of a Palestinian family from demolition. We first attended an olive planting ceremony attended by Palestinian schoolchildren and organised by the Ministry of Sport and Youth. A speech was read by Nathan, on behalf of the International Solidarity Movement which included excerpts from Rachel’s letters home in which she portrayed her admiration and love of the Palestinian people. The school children sang song’s and held up posters of Rachel and messages of solidarity.

» Click here to see photos by Jeff Bright from the event…

In the afternoon, we went to the Rachel Corrie Children’s Centre, also in Rafah.

After Rachel’s untimely death in March 2003, the Union of Health Work Committees named their clinic and children’s center after her. The Children’s Center is dedicated to building relationships between the isolated children and youth in Rafah and their peers in other countries.

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Col. Pinhas Zuaretz Will Testify on July 10 in Final Hearing in Corrie Trial

Posted on July 7, 2011

Corrie Family and Legal Team to Hold Press Conference Monday, July 11, at American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem

(Haifa, Israel – July 7, 2011) – Former Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade Commander, Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz – the final witness in the case – is scheduled to testify Sunday, July 10, in the Corrie civil trial against the State of Israel.

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Colonel Zuaretz was the commanding officer of the Israeli military’s Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade in 2003, when American peace activist Rachel Corrie was killed. Troops under his command were responsible for the actions resulting in her killing. Zuaretz is the highest ranking officer called as a government witness in the civil trial who had command responsibility in Gaza. He is possibly the highest such officer ever to face cross examination in a civil suit regarding the actions of the Israeli military against civilians in Gaza during the second intifada. His testimony is expected to shed light on the Israeli military’s failures as an occupying power to protect civilian life and property in the region. […]

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Former IDF Spokesperson, Ruth Yaron, Testified May 22 in Corrie Case

Posted on May 24, 2011

Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz’s Testimony Was, Yet Again, Postponed

(Haifa, Israel – May 24, 2011) – Former IDF spokesperson, Ruth Yaron, took the stand in Haifa, Israel Sunday, May 22, in what was anticipated to be the final hearing in the ongoing civil lawsuit Corrie vs. the State of Israel. However, the appearance of former Gaza Division Southern Brigade Commander Col. Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz was, yet again, postponed.

Zuaretz’s testimony was tentatively rescheduled for July 10, 2011, with the State being given 15 days to respond.

Download: Former IDF Spokesperson, Ruth Yaron, Testified May 22 in Corrie Case (6796 downloads )

Yaron’s testimony focused on the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), in a weak attempt by the State to justify the military’s killing of Rachel by delegitimizing the organization’s mission of resisting the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian lands using only non-violent, direct action, methods. Rachel was an unarmed civilian, non-violently protesting against home demolitions in Rafah, Gaza, when she was killed. Yaron provided no first-hand knowledge of events, and relied heavily on second or third hand sources and hearsay. […]

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