[Vance]

RAFAH, Gaza (CNN) -- An Israeli bulldozer Sunday killed an American woman protesting the destruction of Palestinian houses in the Gaza city of Rafah on the border with Egypt, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

The woman, identified as Rachel Corrie, 23, of Olympia, Washington, was taken to a hospital, where she died of her injuries.

She had been part of the International Solidarity Movement, a group protesting Israeli actions in the occupied territories and recently appeared in a televised mock trial in which President Bush was accused of war crimes for his support of Israel's actions in Gaza.

"This is a very regrettable incident," an Israeli military source said. "This is a group of protesters who are acting very irresponsibly.

"They are putting everyone in danger, the Palestinians, themselves, our forces, by intentionally placing themselves in a combat zone. We are checking the details of the incident and believe it to be a very regrettable incident."

A member of the group, who described herself only as Alice from London, England, said she and Corrie were seated in front of houses belonging to their friends as the bulldozers approached.

Alice said they had been seated for three hours and the driver of the bulldozer must have seen them before driving over Rachel.

She emerged from underneath the bulldozer saying, "'My back is broken, my back is broken,'" Alice told CNN.

The arrival of ambulances was delayed because drivers were afraid to approach the Israeli forces, Alice said.

Tom Dale said he was about 10 yards from Corrie when the incident occurred. Dale said Corrie, clearly visible in an orange jacket, placed herself between the bulldozer and houses targeted by the Israelis.

As the bulldozer lifted a pile of earth, it moved forward and captured Corrie under its blade, Dale said.

....yea.