White House Urges Inquiry into Ayşenur Eygi’s Death by Israeli Troops

The White House expressed deep concern following the tragic death of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American woman who was reportedly shot in the head by Israeli forces during a protest in the occupied West Bank. Eygi was a peace activist associated with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), an organization focused on nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation.

Eygi, who held dual citizenship from the United States and Turkey, lost her life during a demonstration against Israeli settlement expansion in the village of Beita near Nablus. The protest, taking place on Friday, was characterized by participants praying, predominantly involving men and children, but was met with violent responses from the Israeli army stationed nearby.

The ISM claimed that Israeli forces “intentionally shot and killed” Eygi, emphasizing the tragic nature of this incident as part of ongoing tensions in the region. Eygi was promptly taken to a local hospital in Nablus but was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The family of Eygi has requested privacy during this difficult time, expressing a need to grieve without the intrusion of outside influences. This request has been echoed by various quarters, urging respect for their mourning process.

Officials from the United States government have not confirmed whether Eygi was indeed shot by Israeli troops. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, stated that they are diligently gathering information regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, extended his condolences to Eygi’s family, emphasizing that the safety and security of American citizens is a top priority for the government. The White House further communicated with Israeli officials, calling for a thorough investigation into the incident. Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, conveyed the administration’s deep disturbance over the tragic event.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his sorrow over the loss and committed to sharing further details as they emerge, reiterating their dedication to transparency in the investigation process.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s foreign ministry expressed profound sorrow over the death of its national, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemning what he termed Israel’s “barbaric intervention” against peaceful protesters, which he attributed to Eygi’s death.

The Israeli military acknowledged that they had fired at demonstrators during the protest and stated that they were looking into the reports regarding Eygi’s death. They claimed that their response was directed towards an individual they identified as a primary instigator of violent acts, reportedly throwing rocks at military personnel.

Eygi had recently graduated from the University of Washington, where she was recognized as an exceptional student and a positive influence on her peers. Her former professor, Aria Fani, noted that he had previously cautioned her against traveling to the West Bank due to safety concerns.

The University of Washington has expressed its condolences, with the president of the university, Ana Mari Cauce, calling for an end to violence and a resolution to the ongoing conflict in the region.

The tragic circumstances of Eygi’s death have garnered significant attention, with U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal describing the event as a “terrible tragedy.” She stated her office is working actively to gather more information regarding the circumstances leading to Eygi’s death, indicating her deep concern over the involvement of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in this incident.

Eygi marks the third ISM activist killed since the organization’s establishment in 2000, and she is the 18th demonstrator reported to have been killed in Beita since 2020. Past incidents involving international activists have raised alarms, including the deaths of Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurndall under similar circumstances, underscoring a pattern of violence in protests against Israeli military actions.

Earlier this year, another American activist reported being shot in the leg during a protest in Beita, further highlighting the violent confrontation faced by demonstrators in the territory.