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Israel boycotts inquest into death of peace activist

Vikram Dodd

Mother of the British victim irked by lack of response from Tony Blair to the issue

London: Israel will boycott an inquest that opened on Monday in London, which will investigate the death of a British peace activist shot dead in broad daylight by an Israeli soldier.

Tom Hurndall (22), died after being shot in Rafah, Gaza, while trying to lead Palestinian children to safety after the soldier opened fire from a nearby observation tower in April 2003.

His mother, Jocelyn, told the Guardian she is angry Israel is not cooperating as she still has many questions about how her son came to be shot: ``We are hoping the coroner will address the culture of impunity in which the soldier was functioning and the enormous lack of cooperation we have experienced from the Israelis.''

Slow investigation

Ms Hurndall said that only when the family went to Israel and for seven weeks pressured the authorities and raised the case in the media did any sort of investigation begin.

Her solicitor, Imran Khan, said Israel's boycott of the inquest is disrespectful: ``It shows their disdain for the whole process.''

Tom Hurndall was one of three British civilians killed, allegedly deliberately, within seven months by Israeli forces. In all three cases, Israel claimed the Britons were killed after their troops came under fire. In two cases the claims were not accepted at inquests. Ian Hook was killed in November 2002 and in December last year an inquest jury ruled that he had been unlawfully killed and the victim of a ``deliberate killing''. The U.N. said that Hook (50), who led a house reconstruction programme in Jenin camp, was sitting in his office when he was hit by several bullets.

Ms Hurndall said: ``It was deliberate. Tom was targeted, intentionally. I think the soldier was shooting to kill.'' A spokesman from Israel's London embassy said: ``We regret the tragic death of Tom Hurndall. A due legal process has been completed in Israel and a soldier convicted of the killing and jailed. A full account has been presented to the family and the British Government. The legal procedure in Israel has been completed.''

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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