Human shield protester killed by Israeli bulldozer

An American woman has been killed after she was run over by a bulldozer during a protest in Gaza against Israeli operations.

An American woman has been killed after she was run over by a bulldozer during a protest in Gaza against Israeli operations.

Witnesses said Ms Rachel Corrie (23) from Olympia, Washington, was trying to stop the bulldozer from tearing down a building in the Rafah refugee camp.

She was taken to Najar hospital in Rafah, where she died, said Dr Ali Moussa, a hospital administrator.

Mr Greg Schnabel from Chicago, said the protesters were in the house of Dr Samir Masri. He said: "Rachel was alone in front of the house as we were trying to get them to stop.

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"She waved for the bulldozer to stop. She fell down and the bulldozer kept going. We yelled 'stop, stop', but the bulldozer didn't stop at all. Then it reversed and ran back over her."

The Israeli military and the US State Department have so far refused to comment.

Groups of international protesters have gathered in several locations in the West Bank and Gaza during two years of Palestinian violence, setting themselves up as "human shields" to try to stop Israeli operations there.

Ms Corrie was the first member of the group, called International Solidarity Movement, to be killed in the conflict. Several have been arrested in previous clashes with Israeli forces, and Israeli authorities have deported some members.

PA