Tom Hurndall was a young 21-year-old British student
photojournalist, observing and recording the work of
a peace group in Gaza and the activities of the
Israeli army. On 11th April 2003 Tom was shot in the
head by an Israeli army sniper as he was shepherding
three young children to safety in a refugee camp in
Rafah, Gaza. Tom died on 13th January this year
after spending nine months in a coma.
Following a vigorous six month long lobbying and
media campaign by the family & its supporters, the
Israeli Army was forced to take the rare step of
instigating a military police inquiry into Tom’s
shooting. This has resulted in the indictment of a
soldier for manslaughter. The overwhelming evidence
suggests that the indictment should be changed to
murder and that others should be also prosecuted.
Despite assurances of openness and transparency, the
Military Police Inquiry has refused to allow the
family or its lawyers access to crucial evidence
contained in the inquiry.
The campaign to obtain justice for Tom Hurndall has
exposed the serious flaws in the current
investigation process in respect of the unlawful
activity of Israeli Soldiers serving in the region.
It is an aim of the foundation to continue to press
for a change in the current policy relating to such
investigations. It intends to lobby and launch legal
challenge to ensure that other similar cases are
properly investigated and that soldiers are made
fully accountable for their actions.
The high profile of Tom’s case has ensured that
substantial international attention at the highest
level has been focused on the harsh nature of the
current Israeli occupation in Palestine. We intend
to send a signal to every soldier on the ground in
the Occupied Territories that it is not acceptable
to shoot, maim or terrorise innocent civilians with
impunity, be they Internationals or Palestinians.
The campaign is now at a critical stage. Your help
is urgently needed so that we can support the
necessary challenges in the High Court and other
legal actions under International law.