United Nations (UN) has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of a US-Turkish woman Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank during a protest on Friday. Local reports indicated that Eygi, 26, was shot by Israeli forces while participating in a weekly protest against the expansion of Jewish settlements in the town of Beita near Nablus.
Israel’s military stated that it was investigating reports of a foreign national being killed due to shots fired in the area. Responding to the incident, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, expressed the need for a comprehensive investigation to ensure accountability. He emphasized the importance of protecting civilians at all times.
US concerned over death of an American citizen, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi
The US also called for an investigation, with White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett expressing Washington’s deep concern over the death of an American citizen. He confirmed that the US had reached out to the Israeli government for more information and requested an investigation into the circumstances.
Footage from the scene showed medics rushing Eygi into an ambulance shortly after the shooting. Jewish-Israeli activist Jonathan Pollak, present at the protest, described seeing soldiers aiming from a rooftop. He recalled hearing two shots, with a brief pause between them. Pollak added that he heard someone calling for help in English, and when he approached, he found Eygi lying beneath an olive tree, bleeding from her head. He attempted to stop the bleeding but found her pulse weak, noting a clear line of sight between the soldiers and their location.
Eygi, a dual national, had been attending her first protest with the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian group. She was transported to a hospital in Nablus, where she was later pronounced dead. Dr. Fouad Nafaa, head of Rafidia Hospital, confirmed the death of a US citizen in her mid-20s from a gunshot wound to the head.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed sorrow over the “tragic loss,” while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the Israeli action as “barbaric.” Turkey’s foreign ministry reported that Eygi had been killed by Israeli occupation forces in Nablus.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement on Aysenur Ezgi Eygi killing
Before traveling to the Middle East, Eygi had recently graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle. University president Ana Mari Cauce described her death as devastating and acknowledged Eygi’s positive impact on her peers. Turkish media reported that Eygi was born in Antalya.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement saying that during an operation near Beita, forces had fired at a key instigator of violent activity who had thrown rocks at them and posed a threat. The IDF noted that they were reviewing the details of the incident, including how Eygi was hit.
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Meanwhile, Israeli forces withdrew from Jenin city and its refugee camp in the West Bank after a major nine-day operation. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 36 Palestinians, including children, were killed during the operation, with most of the dead identified as members of armed groups.
Over the past 50 years, Israel has established settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, now home to over 700,000 Jews. These settlements are considered illegal under international law by organizations like the UN Security Council and the UK government, though Israel disputes this interpretation.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemns Israel’s actions
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose relations with Israel have deteriorated since the Hamas attacks on 7 October and the subsequent war in Gaza, expressed on X that he condemned Israel’s actions against a civilian protest in the West Bank. He prayed for mercy for Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish citizen who lost her life in the attack.
Erdoğan stated that Turkey would continue to work on all platforms to end Israel’s occupation and policies, which he described as genocidal, and would seek to hold Israel accountable under international law for crimes against humanity.
Eygi was a recent graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle. Pramila Jayapal, the US representative for the region, commented that Eygi’s death was a “terrible tragedy” and that her office was actively working to gather more information on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Jayapal expressed concern over reports that Eygi was killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. She criticized the Netanyahu government for its inaction regarding settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, which she said were often encouraged by right-wing ministers. She further noted that the killing of an American citizen was a tragic example of the escalating tensions in the region.
Evyatar violence
All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are regarded as illegal under international law. Evyatar, partially built on Beita land seized in 2013, lacked Israeli government approval and was thus classified as an “outpost,” making it illegal under Israeli law. The Israeli courts have debated the fate of Evyatar for years, leading to frequent, notable protests from both Palestinians and settlers.
In April last year, a march at Evyatar advocating for the outpost’s legalization drew over 1,000 participants, including far-right government members like Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and Simcha Rothman. Last month, the Israeli cabinet legalized several outposts, including Evyatar.
Since 2021, human rights groups have reported that Israeli troops have killed at least 10 Palestinians, including two children, during protests related to Evyatar. Additionally, a US national volunteering with Palestinian residents was shot in the leg during a protest last month. The Israeli military stated that the man had been accidentally injured.
Violence by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has surged since October 7, forcing many communities to leave their homes. Palestinian officials and rights groups have consistently accused the IDF of either allowing or participating in settler attacks.
