The family of an award-winning British filmmaker who was shot dead by the Israeli army has launched a civil action against the Israeli government on the second anniversary of his death.
James Miller, from Braunton, in Devon, was filming in the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza when he was fatally wounded by a soldier from the Israeli Defence Force on May 2 2003. He was 34.
Miller and his colleagues were trying to leave the home of a Palestinian family when they came across an armoured personnel carrier. They have always maintained that they were carrying a white flag and had identified themselves to troops as British journalists.
But an Israeli soldier opened fire as they approached the vehicle and seconds later Miller, a father of two, was hit in the neck between his body armour and helmet.
The officer who fired the shot is a first lieutenant in the Bedouin Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, who was commanding the unit at the time. He was due to face a disciplinary hearing but was acquitted by Brigadier General Guy Tzur, the head of the army’s southern command.
Miller’s relatives announced on Monday that Israeli lawyers had issued a writ on their behalf against the state of Israel. The film-maker’s widow said the family was determined to find justice and put an end to the ”culture of impunity” within the army.
”In our first meeting with the IDF in July 2003 we said categorically that we would not go away and our resolve has never been stronger,” said Sophy Miller (34).
”It is easy to fight compared to living without James. It is our hope that as well as accountability for James’ death a successful civil case will go some way towards changing this and in doing so may make Israeli soldiers think twice about shooting innocent civilians.” – Guardian Unlimited Â