ISM Gaza Strip commemorates the 6th anniversary of the death of Rachel Corrie

Every year we remember 16th March. We remember a kind, insightful, talented person committed to the plight of the Palestinian people, who genuinely had the courage of her convictions. Her name was Rachel Corrie. This year, the anniversary of her death comes in the wake of Israel 's massive assault on the Gaza Strip. We believe Rachel would want the world to remember the 1,400 Palestinians killed before she is remembered herself. Now, six long years after her death, the situation in Gaza is even more desperate than when Rachel bore witness to it. Six years on we still demand justice.




This is a highly poignant day for us, so to mark it in a positive and inspiring way, we joined five young Palestinian artists to create a mural on one of the few remaining sections of the Israeli wall on the Rafah-Egypt border strip. The same wall whose construction saw the destruction of residential neighbourhoods, including the one Rachel died trying to safeguard. The same wall that for years was intended to imprison Palestinian people. The same wall that was finally destroyed by the Palestinian people.




As the artists began painting the wall, enlivening it with colourful symbols of defiance, Israeli F-16 fighter jets were heard flying over Rafah. Despite Israel 's announcement of a "unilateral ceasefire" on 18th January, the Israeli Air Force continues to unilaterally bomb Rafah and other areas in the Gaza Strip almost daily. Fortunately, today we weren't bombed by Israeli aircraft, maybe because we were protected by the "Palestinian Air Force". Palestinian children from the Lifemakers Center along with kids from the nearby al-Barazil refugee camp responded to the Israeli military flying F-16s by flying kites! 14 kites were flown in memory of the 14 hundred Palestinians killed recently in Gaza . Another kite sent our love to Rachel.




Rachel's parents, Cindy and Craig Corrie succeeded to gain entry to Gaza and celebrated International Women's Day with the courageous women of Gaza on 8th March. Commenting on their visit they said, "Despite the pain, we have once again felt privileged to enter briefly into the lives of Rachel's Palestinian friends in Gaza . We are moved by their resilience and heartened by their song, dance, and laughter amidst the tears."




The Israeli Occupation Forces attempted to kill another American ISM activist, Tristan Anderson, on 13th March 2009, in the West Bank village of Ni'lin . Tristan, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Just as today we stood at the destroyed wall of Rafah, commemorating the sacrifice of Rachel, one day we will stand together with Tristan at the destroyed wall of Ni'lin to commemorate the sacrifice of its Palestinian martyrs.




We should remember Rachel and all that she stood for. Similarly we must never let the world forget all the innocent Palestinian souls who perished without mercy. Their fate is already slipping from the collective memory of the international community, fading from the headlines of a fickle corporate media. It is time this manufactured catastrophe ends so that Rachels death and the deaths of countless Palestinians were not in vain.




ISM Gaza Strip

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[WinchesterJoe]

To the parents of Rachel - as a 60s GreenBeret Airborne commander - I have never witnessed any of the macho men I served with or for or under - with as much REAL courage - moral and physical - as your daughter. IF - there is a ' Heaven' - a better place for the good and faithful of us in an afterlife - she is there with the angels - or it is all a myth - for if Rachel is not there - i do not want to be there.

Joe Cortina - father - veteran - patriot -Christian and defender of the defensless

[HamechiKoloft]

If only the parents of all those Israeli pilots who dropped phosphorous bombs on Gazan children had as much integrity as what Rachel's Parents have in their little fingers!

When I first heard Rachel's story I wondered what sort of person she was too.

Seeing Mr and Mrs Corrie here, I am no longer curious.

Bless her.

[mateo2]

Bulldozer 1:0 Rachel

[zazakr]

@HamechiKoloft

hamas have pilots to ,the bombs they drop are fatah members from high bildings .

[zazakr]

she was killd by hamas,rachel was another victim of a "human shield" for the hamas.

[LSRochon]

Rachel will not be forgotten.....Peace and true Justice for ALL.

MARCH 16 ANNIVERSARY....

[penfolduk78]

it's americans like this that remind me how much i love the USA

[welovepeople234]

may 16 my grandad birthday and 2003 is when my grandad died

[wadelkmxc]

Just got this official ringtone at DownloadEveryTone. Com I love this song .........

[Kenzofeis]

Her courage and kindness was very impressive.

The man in the machine is a coward in comparison.

"Do not think my kindness is weakness."