The lawsuit, filed in 2005 on behalf of the Corrie family by attorney Hussein abu Hussein, charges the State of Israel with responsibility for Rachel’s killing and failure to conduct a full and credible investigation in the case.

Corrie was 23 years old when she went to the town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip as part of a group of activists from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) to portest against the demolition of Palestinian civilian homes in Gaza.

In reading out the verdict on Tuesday at the Haifa District Court in northern Israel, the judge said the state was not responsible for any “damages caused” as they had occurred during what he termed war-time actions. He called Corrie’s death a “regrettable accident”, according to Reuters.

“I reject the suit,” the judge said. “There is no justification to demand the state pay any damages.” as the  Corrie family had requested a symbolic $1 in damages and legal expenses.

“I am hurt,” Corrie’s mother, Cindy, told reporters after the verdict was read.

In a statement released by attorney Hussein abu Hussein on the Rachel Corrie Foundation website he said: “We knew from the beginning that we had an uphill battle to get truthful answers and justice, but we are convinced that this verdict distorts the strong evidence presented in court, and contradicts fundamental principles of international law with regard to protection of human rights defenders. In denying justice in Rachel Corrie’s killing, this verdict speaks to the systemic failure to hold the Israeli military accountable for continuing violations of basic human rights.

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Israel has failed to carry out the “thorough, credible and transparent investigation” it had promised into the death of American activist Rachel Corrie in Gaza nine years ago, the US ambassador in Tel Aviv said a few days ago.