Outrage After Israeli Forces Kill American-Turkish Activist in the West Bank
Israeli forces fatally shot American-Turkish activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi on Friday, sparking outrage and condemnation from human rights groups and governments. The 26-year-old was protesting against illegal Israeli settlements on Mount Sbeih in the West Bank when Israeli soldiers opened fire, killing her.
Eygi’s death has drawn attention to the growing violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly as clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians have intensified since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Eygi was shot during a demonstration where Israeli forces used live ammunition, stun grenades, and tear gas to disperse protesters. Eygi sustained a critical head injury and was rushed to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where she died.
Fouad Nafaa, the hospital director, stated that despite attempts to revive her, Eygi could not be saved. Eyewitness Jonathan Pollak, who was present at the scene, described the frantic efforts to save Eygi. “I found her lying on the ground beneath an olive grove, bleeding to death,” Pollak said. Despite his attempts to stop the bleeding, Eygi passed away before the ambulance could transport her to safety.
International Response and Calls for Accountability
Eygi’s death has reverberated around the world, with multiple countries and organizations condemning the actions of the Israeli military. Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement accusing Israel of trying to suppress those who stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. “Israel is trying to intimidate all those who come to the aid of the Palestinian people,” the Turkish statement read. Turkey also vowed to hold the Israeli authorities accountable in international courts.
The United States government expressed concern and launched an investigation into the incident. US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew posted on X that the US was “urgently gathering more information” about Eygi’s death, reiterating that the safety of American citizens is a top priority. This sentiment was echoed by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, who promised a thorough investigation.
However, human rights groups were more skeptical about the possibility of justice. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor criticized the Israeli military’s response, predicting that any investigation into Eygi’s death would be a “sham.” The group insisted that sanctions against Israel were the only way to prevent such tragedies in the future. Similarly, the UK-based Peace and Justice Project condemned the killing, describing it as part of Israel’s broader strategy of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, which has been emboldened by the support of the US and UK.
Settler Violence and the Israeli Occupation
Eygi’s activism was driven by her commitment to nonviolent resistance against Israeli occupation and settler violence, which has escalated dramatically in recent months. As a member of the International Solidarity Movement, she worked to defend Palestinian rights and protest the illegal expansion of Israeli settlements. The Israeli government has faced widespread international criticism for these settlements, which the majority of the world considers illegal under international law.
Despite this global condemnation, Israel continues to expand its settlements, with strong backing from the US. President Joe Biden’s administration has publicly stated that the settlements are “inconsistent with international law,” but the US has a long history of using its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to protect Israel from censure.
