Israel's hands-off killing policy

The finding by an Israeli court that International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteer Rachel Corrie was killed by "accident" is merely the latest example of Israel granting impunity to its forces.

Despite numerous incidents involving the killing of both Palestinian and foreign civilians by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), only a handful of soldiers have ever been prosecuted and fewer still convicted.

Corrie was crushed to death by an IDF bulldozer as she attempted to defend Palestinian homes from destruction during a planned home demolition in Rafa, Gaza, on March 16 2003.

An internal IDF investigation into the US citizen's death cleared those involved of any wrongdoing, and not for the first time.

This week's verdict, in a civil case brought by Ms Corrie's parents, backed the IDF investigation and maintained that the Israeli military is not responsible for "damages caused" because the bulldozer was engaged in a "combat operation" in Rafah.

Amnesty International condemned the verdict, saying it continued a "pattern of impunity for Israeli military violations against civilians and human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territories."

Amnesty International USA Middle East and North Africa advocacy director Sanjeev Bery said: "Rachel Corrie was a peaceful US protester who was killed while attempting to protect a Palestinian home from the crushing force of an Israeli military bulldozer.

"More than nine years after Corrie's death, the Israeli authorities still have not delivered on promises to conduct a 'thorough, credible and transparent' investigation. Instead, an Israeli court has upheld the flawed military investigation and issued a verdict that once again shields the Israeli military from any accountability.

"Rachel Corrie was clearly identifiable as a civilian, as she was wearing a fluorescent orange vest when she was killed.

"She and other non-violent activists had been peacefully demonstrating against the demolitions for hours when the Israeli military bulldozer ran over her."

International humanitarian law prohibits the destruction of property unless required by imperative military necessity, and requires that in any military operation constant care is taken to protect civilians, the charity points out.

However demolitions are still routine in the occupied West Bank, with more than 600 structures demolished in 2011, resulting in the forcible eviction of almost 1,100 people.

According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in the first seven months of 2012 the Israeli military demolished 327 structures in the West Bank, displacing 575 people.

Mavi Mamara

In 2010, nine unarmed Turkish activists taking part in the international flotilla attempting to breach the blockade of Gaza were killed when Israeli special forces boarded the ship Mavi Mamara.

The massacre sparked international outrage and condemnation, but Israel has refused to apologise for the incident initially branding those aboard the vessel as "terrorists."

A UN investigation found that the decision to board the vessel in international waters was "excessive and unreasonable," but that the Israeli blockade was "a legitimate security measure."

Although a Turkish court has filed charges against four senior Israeli military commanders, no-one has been prosecuted for the killings.

Operation Cast Lead

On 27 December 2008, Israeli forces began Operation Cast Lead - the bombardment and invasion of Gaza - which led to an estimated 1,400 deaths, including around 300 children.

Large areas of Gaza had been razed to the ground, leaving many thousands homeless and the already dire economy in ruins.

Earlier this month an un-named former Israeli soldier was jailed for just 45 days over the deaths of a Palestinian mother and daughter shot dead while waving white flags during the operation.

A manslaughter charge was dropped and the soldier was convicted of "shooting without permission" under a plea bargain.

This was the only charge to arise from the operation.

Abir Aramin

In January 2007, Israeli border police shot and killed 10-year-old Palestinian girl Abir Aramin as she returned home from school in the West bank village of Anata.

An Israeli police investigation found there was no evidence that Abir had been killed by a baton round fired by police and closed the file.

In 2010, after a lengthy campaign by Abir's family, Israel's highest court found that Abir had indeed been killed by a rubber bullet fired by a border police officer and that the killing had been "totally unjustifiable."

In 2011, the court ordered the state to pay compensation but rejected a petition for the case to be reopened. No prosecution was ever brought.

Tom Hurndall

In 2003, British ISM activist and aspiring photojournalist Tom Hurndall was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier in Rafa, Gaza, as he attempted to lead Palestinian children to safety.

He died in hospital in London in 2004 having remained in a vegetative state.

The initial IDF field report exonerated the soldier responsible, but in 2005, Taysir-al-Heib was sentenced to eight years for unlawful killing.

He was released 18 months early in 2010.