Lora Gordon and Brian Avery

Lora Gordon is a 20-year-old American Jew who moved to Rafah two days after Rachel Corrie was killed and witnessed the murder of Tom Hurndall by the Israeli Military. She spent over 10 months living with the Palestinians in Occupied Rafah. She worked primarily in media work and documentation; and also to liase between the Rafah community and the international community through summer camp projects, cooperative building projects, and English teaching.

Brian Avery was shot in the face by the Israeli Military in Jenin on April 5, 2003 while wearing a bright red jacket. When he raised himself from the ground, witnesses saw that his left cheek had almost been totally shot off. A doctor wanted him transferred to a hospital inside Israel, but his departure was delayed because the Israeli military refused to grant his ambulance safe passage for more than an hour. Brian has already undergone three reconstructive surgeries and faces at least two more in the future.

Lora and Brian were both volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement. The ISM is a Palestinian-led movement of Palestinian and international activists working to raise awareness of the struggle for Palestinian freedom and an end to the Israeli occupation. ISM utilizes nonviolent, direct action to confront and challenge the illegal Israeli occupation forces and policies.