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Six Years Without Rachel

By ISM Gaza Strip, March 2009

Every March 16th we remember Rachel Corrie, a kind, insightful, talented person committed to the Palestinian plight and the courage of her convictions. We believe that before she is remembered on this anniversary of her death, Rachel would want the world to remember the 1,400 Palestinians killed in Israel's massive assault on the Gaza Strip. The situation is now even more desperate than when she was here. We still demand justice. We still demand that the world hold Israel responsible for the murder of Rachel and so many Palestinians. We also demand that the US hold responsible the Caterpillar corporation that provides the military bulldozers that killed Rachel and many Palestinians and, which have demolished thousands of Palestinian homes.

Due to Israel’s blockade, today was the first time ISM activists commemorated the anniversary in Gaza itself. Some of us who volunteered in 2003 compared the situation then and now. The oppressive wall with Egypt has been cut down but the siege and blockade continue. From 2002 to 2005 over 3,000 Palestinian homes were bulldozed in Rafah. Now, in just 22 days, thousands more were destroyed throughout the entire Strip. 100,000 Palestinians have been left homeless.

On this poignant day, we joined five young Palestinian artists to create a mural on one of the few remaining sections of the Israeli-built wall with Egypt, whose creation demanded the destruction of vast swathes of residential neighborhoods, including the one Rachel died trying to safeguard. It is the wall from which an Israeli soldier shot fellow ISM activist, Tom Hurndall, in the head less than a month after Rachel was killed and which was intended to imprison Palestinian people, who finally destroyed it.

Rachel would want the world to remember the 1,400 Palestinians killed in Israel's massive assault on the Gaza Strip.

As colorful symbols of defiance were painted on the wall, Israeli F-16 fighter jets flew over Rafah. Despite Israel's "unilateral ceasefire" they unilaterally bomb Rafah and other areas almost daily. International journalists have left and the world thinks the war is over, but Palestinians are still killed and injured regularly. Fortunately, today no bombs were dropped, perhaps due to the "Palestinian Air Force" - Palestinian children defiantly flying 14 kites in memory of the 1400 Palestinians killed recently. Another kite sent our love to Rachel.

Gaza has been a besieged prison for nearly two years now, locking in 1.5 million people. After the Free Gaza Movement voyages challenged the blockade by sea, then Viva Palestina convoy by land last week, Palestinian children symbolically broke the control of Gazan airspace today. A delegation from Code Pink also entered recently and celebrated International Women's Day with the courageous women of Gaza on 8th March. Rachel's parents, Cindy and Craig Corrie joined them, commenting, "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."

Rachel Corrie, 2002 (photo used by permission of the Rachel Corrie Foundation)

Maybe the soaring kites were seen by internationals protesting on the Egyptian side, against the refusal to allow them in. They included Jordanian parliamentarians and Greek engineers aiming to assist reconstruction. However, it is not enough. The international community must mobilize against the genocidal siege on Gaza.

Israeli forces shot another American ISM activist, Tristan Anderson, in the head three days ago in the West Bank village of Ni'lin. Tristan, our thoughts and prayers are with you. One day we will stand together with you at the destroyed wall of Ni'lin to commemorate the sacrifice of Ahmed Mousa (10), Yousef Amira (17), Arafat Rateb Khawaje (22) and Mohammed Khawaje (20), the four civilian martyrs of Ni'lin. Despite the murders of Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurndall, despite the attempted assassinations of Brian Avery and Tristan Anderson, despite the injuries, abductions, illegal deportations and denials of entry that we suffered, we are back. ISM is still here, and will continue to support Palestinian non-violent resistance.

Six years after the martyrdom of Rachel; three days after the shooting of Tristan; two months after Palestinians ousted Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip; 42 years after the occupation of West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip; 61 years after the Nakba; we still say “Free Palestine! End the occupation! Peace with justice and dignity!” As we remember Rachel we must never let the world forget 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 Rachel’s death and the deaths of countless Palestinians are not in vain.