Funeral for Turkish-American Activist Aysenur Eygi Takes Place

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish-American activist, was laid to rest on Saturday after she was reportedly killed by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank just a week prior. Eygi, who was 26 years old and held dual citizenship through her U.S. and Turkish backgrounds, was buried in her hometown of Didim on the Aegean coastline.

The process of mourning began earlier when her body was transported from a hospital to her family home and then to Didim’s Central Mosque. Thousands of mourners gathered in the streets to pay their respects, and the atmosphere was marked by the presence of Turkish flags lining the town.

This week, the Turkish Justice Ministry announced it would be investigating the circumstances surrounding Eygi’s death. Numan Kurtulus, the speaker of Turkey’s parliament, voiced the sentiments of many during the funeral, stating, “We are not going to leave our daughter’s blood on the ground and we demand responsibility and accountability for this murder.”

Eygi’s father has expressed that he desires a similar investigation from the U.S. government. He highlighted the typical thoroughness of U.S. investigations, stating, “The U.S. would typically investigate the killing of one of its citizens like ‘an eagle on its emblem,’” but suggested an apparent reluctance to engage with the situation because it involves Israel. He fears this may lead to a lack of accountability.

Eygi was actively involved with the International Solidarity Movement, a group known for organizing protests against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, particularly in relation to Palestinian issues. Eygi was participating in a scheduled protest with fellow activists and local Palestinians on September 6 when the tragic incident occurred. While protesters clashed with Israeli forces, eyewitness accounts indicate she was shot after the protest had concluded while standing alone under an olive tree, this when she was struck once in the head.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an initial investigation that suggested Eygi was “highly likely” to have been unintentionally struck by gunfire aimed at someone else, who they identified as a key instigator of the protest that they labeled as a riot.

Eygi’s death has drawn international attention and condemnation, including remarks from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. His comments arrive during ongoing efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to establish a cease-fire and facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas. However, these discussions have encountered repeated obstacles, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of unreasonable demands.

On the same day of Eygi’s funeral, violence erupted in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes targeted locations in the central and southern regions of the territory. In one instance, airstrikes hit a residence in Gaza City, which was occupied by 11 individuals, including several women and children. Another strike targeted a refugee tent in Khan Younis, and previous airstrikes this week hit a tent camp and a United Nations school that was housing displaced individuals.

The ongoing conflict began on October 7, when Hamas-led fighters launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians. They also abducted around 250 individuals, with about 100 remaining hostages after a week-long ceasefire in November. Reports indicate that around a third of these hostages are feared dead.

This war has devastated Gaza, displacing roughly 90% of its 2.3 million inhabitants multiple times, leading to an escalating humanitarian crisis. The Health Ministry of Gaza reports that more than 41,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the conflict, though it does not differentiate between civilians and militants in their figures. They do note, however, that women and children constitute slightly over half of the reported casualties. Meanwhile, Israel asserts that more than 17,000 militants have been killed throughout the conflict.