White House Urges Inquiry into Ayşenur Eygi’s Killing by Israeli Forces

The White House expressed deep concern over the tragic death of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American woman who was shot in the head by Israeli forces during a protest against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. This incident has sparked significant outrage in the international community.

Eygi was a dual citizen of the United States and Turkey and worked as a volunteer peace activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Her death occurred on Friday during a regular protest in Beita, near Nablus, as reported by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The ISM stated that Israeli forces “intentionally shot and killed” Eygi while she was participating in the weekly demonstration, although their statement did not initially identify her by name. The protest primarily involved men and children praying, which was met with violence from the Israeli army present on a nearby hill. Eygi was transported to a local hospital in Nablus but did not survive.

Eygi’s family has requested privacy during this difficult time, indicating that their desire to mourn should be respected by all. The U.S. government has not confirmed whether Eygi was indeed shot by Israeli troops. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, indicated that they were urgently gathering information regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, shared his condolences via a social media platform, emphasizing that the safety and security of American citizens is of paramount importance. Meanwhile, the White House has reached out to the Israeli government for a thorough investigation into Eygi’s killing. Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, expressed the administration’s deep disturbance over the incident.

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, referred to the event as a “tragic loss” and promised that further information would be shared as it becomes available. He also stated that necessary actions would be taken based on what is learned.

On the Turkish side, the foreign ministry expressed sorrow over Eygi’s death, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned Israel’s actions as a “barbaric intervention” against a civilian protest that resulted in her death.

The Israeli military acknowledged that they fired upon demonstrators and are conducting an investigation into the reports of a foreign national’s killing. According to the Israel Defense Forces, their actions were a response to a perceived threat from a “main instigator” allegedly engaging in violent activities, such as throwing rocks.

Eygi had graduated from the University of Washington just a few months prior, where she was recognized as a remarkable student. An assistant professor from the university shared that Eygi was a peer mentor, positively influencing new students’ experiences within her department. The university’s president, Ana Mari Cauce, labeled Eygi’s death as “awful” and called for an end to violence and a resolution to the ongoing crisis in the West Bank.

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal described Eygi’s death as a “terrible tragedy.” She noted that her office was actively seeking more information on the events leading to this incident. Jayapal expressed her concern over reports suggesting that Eygi was killed by Israeli Defense Forces, linking her death to the ongoing issues of settlement expansion and violence in the region.

Eygi is the third ISM activist reported killed since the organization’s inception in 2000. The ISM indicated that she was the 18th demonstrator killed in Beita since 2020. Historical context adds depth to this situation, as it echoes incidents such as the death of Rachel Corrie in 2003. Corrie was a 23-year-old American activist who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while protesting against military actions in Rafah.

Additionally, just recently, another American activist alleged he was shot in the leg by Israeli forces during a protest in Beita. These incidents underscore the ongoing tensions and violence surrounding protests against Israeli military actions and policies in Palestinian territories.