On my way back to the office at the Arab American University of Jenin in the West Bank, I ran into Amal, the cleaning lady. She is normally in a bubbly mood but today was despondent, which was ironic as her name means ‘hope’ in Arabic. I greeted her and then just listened as she tearfully recounted a litany of people killed or maimed by Israeli soldiers in the last few days - most recently the early morning assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. She seemed especially sad this morning, but not because she was a Hamas activist or Yassin supporter, but a mother with 7 daughters. Read more about It's Not About Yassin
Hours after an Israeli attack helicopter launched three missiles at the paralyzed and wheelchairbound leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, killing him and seven other Palestinians, Britain’s Foreign Minister Jack Straw said that Israel “is not entitled to carry out unlawful killings.” Ariel Sharon, who ordered the extrajudicial execution said that he believed that Israel delivered “a very important message to all of those who are responsible with terrorist attacks.” That Israel has legitimate security concerns is not denied by many of the world’s leaders, but was Jack Straw right in calling the assassination “unlawful”? Read more about Assassination is indeed an unlawful act
“My family and I will never forget March 16, 2003, the day we lost our dear friend Rachel Corrie. A volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Rachel lived with us in Rafah as if she were a member of our family. She helped us even when we did not need help. She tried to bring optimism and happiness into our lives.” Dr. Samir Nassrallah is the pharmacist whose home in Rafah Rachel died to protect. In this article, he recalls the day Rachel was killed and speaks about what happened in the aftermath of the tragedy. Read more about One Year Later: No one sees and no one hears
Israeli forces killed two children in Rafah. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Wael Injili died of his injuries after being hit with shrapnel during the Israeli assault on Rafah refugee camp. Medical sources told WAFA that he was severely injured. Earlier, Israeli forces killed Mosbah Mwafi. Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles on homes. Mwafi was being hit with a missile which separated his head from his body. Israeli tanks, jeeps and army bulldozers, backed by Apache helicopters invaded Rafah refugee camp, opening fire on homes. Israeli bulldozers demolished five homes in the refugee camp. Read more about Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians in Rafah
One day, I was going to the Children’s Parliament in Rafah and a young American woman attracted my attention. Her name was Rachel Corrie. She talked to me about my fears and the problems of security we children and our nation face. I was surprised by the fact that Rachel was trying to comfort me. As Rachel worked with the parliament, I understood that she wanted us to be able to have our voice heard in the outside world, particularly in America, to show how much we are suffering. She said she loved children and how she feels sad for them when they are killed. And from that time, we became good friends. Yasmine Abu Libdeh writes from Rafah. Read more about One Year Later: "Rachel, my mother"
One year ago today 23-year-old Rachel Corrie was killed. This striking young American, representing the values of the American people if not its current government, was run over by an Israeli bulldozer while protesting house demolitions in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Rachel was the first international to be killed while peacefully protesting illegal Israeli military actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, yet her death has proven insufficient to shock the international community from its lethargic slumber. “What will it take?” asks Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza. Read more about One Year Later: "What will it take?"
“When she died, my friend Rachel Corrie left us grieving in immense pain. Now a year has passed since she was killed and we still miss her deeply. I still remember her lovely spirit, strong personality and laughter as if she were still around. In Rafah, every shop, street, and devastated refugee camp has a living memory of her kind smile and gentle voice. Her death meant an incredible amount to me personally and to every Palestinian who knew her, as well as those who did not know her. It was a terrible shock to everyone in Rafah.” Mohammed Qeshta writes from Rafah. Read more about One Year Later: Rafah remembers Rachel's kindness
Olympia, Washington is the hometown of peace activist Rachel Corrie who was killed by the Israeli Defense Forces on March 16, 2003. This article looks at the impact of Rachel’s death on her community both in the period immediately following her death and in the year to come, focused on a peace camp which began its existence the day bombs started falling on Iraq. Camp Rachel was a bittersweet legacy of her death, one she would have both been proud of and proudly taken part of, most likely in a leadership role. It was a live and personal call to activists to rally in her name, to use her heroism as inspiration and strength for the actions, protests, petitions, letter writing and civil disobedience to come. candio. writes for EI. Read more about One Year Later: Olympia after Camp Rachel
In December 2003, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie visited Ruweished refugee camp in eastern Jordan. Jolie, who has been a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador since August 2001 wrote a journal which has been released today by the UN refugee agency. During her one day visit to Ruweished refugee camp, where more than 800 refugees, mostly Palestinians, have settled after fleeing Iraq in April 2003. The actress, who starred in Gone In 60 Seconds and as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider visited the camp’s pre-school. The children at the school told her “their dream is to see their homeland.” Read more about Angelina Jolie gives voice to Palestinian refugees in Jordan
Since the beginning of this month, Israeli forces have killed 44 Palestinians, including women and children. According to data from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the Ministry of Health, 30 Palestinians were killed in Gaza and 14 in the West Bank. Among those killed are 18 minors. More than 197 Palestinians, mostly children, were wounded in the same period. In February 2004, Israeli forces killed 52 Palestinians. On March 7 alone, 14 Palestinians were killed, including 4 children, as Israeli forces invaded Nusseirat and Bureij refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. Read more about Israeli forces kill 44 Palestinians since beginning of March