Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26 years old US-Turkish woman, was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers during a protest in the West Bank, according to witnesses who say she posed no threat at the time of the incident. Eygi, a recent graduate of the University of Washington and a dual U.S.-Turkish citizen, was participating in a demonstration against Israeli settlements when she was struck in the head by a bullet. The tragic event has drawn sharp condemnation and calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Eygi was part of a group of activists and Palestinians who had gathered near the town of Beita, a site of frequent protests against the nearby Israeli settlement of Evyatar. The protest, which initially involved a communal prayer, escalated into clashes with Israeli forces, who responded with tear gas and live ammunition. Witnesses say the situation had calmed when soldiers fired the shots that killed Eygi.
Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli activist present at the scene, recounted the moments leading up to Eygi's death. He described how soldiers on a nearby rooftop aimed their weapons at the group and fired. "I saw her lying on the ground, next to an olive tree, bleeding to death," Pollak said, underscoring the sudden and lethal nature of the shooting.
Another witness, Mariam Dag, also an activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), corroborated the account, stating that the shots came from the direction of the Israeli forces. She noted that Eygi had been eager to participate in the protest, having arrived in the West Bank only days earlier. "She was really keen on coming to the demonstration," Dag said, adding that the shooting occurred when there were no immediate confrontations.
The Israeli military has acknowledged firing at the protesters, claiming they targeted an "instigator of violent activity" who posed a threat to their forces. However, they have not confirmed whether Eygi was the individual they targeted. The U.S. government, while confirming Eygi's death, has expressed deep concern and called on Israel to conduct a thorough investigation.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent confrontations in the West Bank, which has seen a surge in hostilities since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. Over 690 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict, according to Palestinian health officials, with many of these deaths occurring during Israeli military operations.
Eygi's death has sparked a strong reaction from both her family and the international community. Her family has demanded an independent investigation, expressing skepticism about an Israeli-led probe's impartiality. "We call on President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary of State Blinken to order an independent investigation into the unlawful killing of a U.S. citizen," the family said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated that the U.S. is "intensely focused" on uncovering the facts surrounding Eygi's death. However, the U.S. has faced criticism for its response to similar incidents in the past, where American citizens were killed under contentious circumstances in the West Bank.
The Turkish government has also condemned the killing, with its Foreign Ministry vowing to pursue justice for Eygi. "We will follow up on bringing those who killed our citizen to justice," said ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli.
Eygi's involvement with the ISM recalls the tragic fates of other activists affiliated with the group, such as American Rachel Corrie and British citizen Tom Hurndall, both of whom were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2003. The ISM's mission involves placing its members between Israeli forces and Palestinians in an effort to halt military operations.
As international pressure mounts, the Israeli military faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of protests and its rules of engagement. Human rights groups have long criticized the lack of accountability for Israeli soldiers involved in the deaths of Palestinians and international activists.
Eygi's family, friends, and fellow activists mourn her as a passionate advocate for human rights. Aria Fani, a professor at the University of Washington who knew Eygi, described her as someone with "a gift for listening to others" and a deep commitment to justice. "She needed to bear witness for the sake of her own humanity," Fani recalled.
