Aysenur Eygi, a 26-year-old American woman, was fatally shot on Friday during a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to witnesses. Eygi, a recent graduate from the University of Washington and a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), was reportedly shot in the head by Israeli forces during a protest near the town of Beita. Eygi, who held dual U.S.-Turkish citizenship, had arrived in the West Bank earlier this week to participate in the ongoing protests against settlement expansion.
Witnesses described the protest as initially peaceful, with a communal prayer on a hillside outside Beita. However, tensions escalated when Israeli troops fired tear gas and live ammunition after some protesters began throwing stones. Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli activist present at the protest, reported that the shooting occurred roughly 30 minutes after the initial clashes had subsided. According to Pollak, Eygi was standing about 200 yards away from Israeli troops when she was struck. "There was no justification for taking that shot", he stated.
Eyewitness Accounts & Official Reactions
Mariam Dag, another ISM activist, corroborated Pollak's account, stating that she saw an Israeli soldier on a rooftop and heard two shots fired. "One hit a Palestinian protester in the leg; the other hit Eygi", Dag recalled. The doctors who treated Eygi, Dr. Ward Basalat and Dr. Fouad Naffa, confirmed that she had been shot in the head.
The U.S. government expressed deep concern over the incident, with National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett stating, "We are deeply disturbed by the tragic death of Eygi". Secretary of State Antony Blinken added that the U.S. is "intensely focused" on understanding what happened and will "draw the necessary conclusions and consequences".
Turkey’s government directly condemned the killing, labeling it a "murder" committed by the Israeli government. Turkey's Foreign Ministry stated it would work to ensure justice is served. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned what he termed "Israel’s barbaric intervention" against the demonstrators.
Eygi's Background &Activism
Eygi was remembered as a passionate advocate for human rights, with a history of activism. Aria Fani, a professor at the University of Washington, recalled Eygi's involvement in pro-Palestinian activities earlier this year. "She needed to bear witness for the sake of her own humanity", Fani quoted Eygi as saying before her departure for the West Bank.
Increasing Violence Amid Rising Tensions
Eygi's death comes amid a surge of violence in the West Bank, triggered by the Israel-Hamas conflict that began in October. According to Palestinian health officials, more than 690 Palestinians have been killed in the region since the conflict began, with increasing Israeli military operations, settler attacks on Palestinians, and violent move at protests.
On the same day as Eygi's killing, a 13-year-old Palestinian girl, Bana Laboom, was also shot dead while observing clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians near her village. The Israeli military acknowledged that its troops had opened fire in the vicinity of both incidents but stated that investigations were ongoing.
Calls for Accountability & Justice
Human rights groups have long criticized the lack of accountability for Israeli forces' actions in the West Bank. ISM noted that Eygi was the third ISM volunteer killed by Israeli forces since 2003. "The only reason we are hearing about it now is because it’s happening to an American", said Pollak.
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen called for more action from the Biden administration, stating that the U.S. government has not done enough "to pursue justice and accountability". He urged the administration to "demand the prosecution of those responsible for harm against American citizens".
What Next?
As investigations continue, both U.S. and Turkish officials are urging a transparent and thorough inquiry into Eygi's death. The Biden administration has signaled its intention to seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the incident, with the possibility of further diplomatic or legal actions depending on the investigation's findings. The incident highlights the ongoing volatility and complex dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with international attention now focused on ensuring accountability and justice for Eygi and other victims.
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