Reflecting upon the verdict given at a Haifa district court on Tuesday morning, essentially blaming the victim for her own death, the intransigency of Israel's politicised justice system was immediately exposed when the judge legitimised a legal avenue for Israel to exploit now and in any similar future case.

It is difficult to accept that Rachel, in standing guard in front of the bulldozer's path, unarmed, posed any threat to the IDF personnel and could be found to have been taking a "direct part in combat", such that would qualify her as a combatant under international law.

This devastating verdict raises new questions over whether this ruling will allow the IDF to misuse their ability to simply declare everywhere a closed military zone in order to be absolved from prosecution for harming civilian life.