Israeli Forces Fatally Shoot American-Turkish Activist in the West Bank
In a tragic incident on Friday, Israeli forces shot and killed an American-Turkish activist, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, during a protest in the occupied West Bank. The 26-year-old activist was participating in a demonstration against illegal Israeli settlements on Mount Sbeih, near Beita, south of Nablus, when the Israeli military opened fire on demonstrators.
According to local reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Eygi was fatally injured when Israeli forces deployed live ammunition, stun grenades, and tear gas. The head of Rafidia Hospital, Fouad Nafaa, confirmed that Eygi was brought to the hospital in critical condition, suffering from a severe head injury. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, Eygi tragically passed away.
Eyewitness Jonathan Pollak, speaking to Al Jazeera, recounted the moments after the shooting. “I found her lying on the ground beneath an olive grove, bleeding to death,” Pollak said. He attempted to stop the bleeding and check her pulse before emergency services arrived, but Eygi succumbed to her injuries.
Eyewitness Jonathan Pollak, speaking to Al Jazeera, recounted the moments after the shooting. “I found her lying on the ground beneath an olive grove, bleeding to death,” Pollak said. He attempted to stop the bleeding and check her pulse before emergency services arrived, but Eygi succumbed to her injuries.
Nablus Governor Ghassan Daghlas condemned the killing and stated that "all legal measures" would be submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in pursuit of justice. He also made a direct appeal to US President Joe Biden to halt all support to Israel, citing its attacks on civilians, including foreign nationals such as Eygi. “The occupying state is working hard to bomb hospitals, kill children, and kill foreigners, including American nationals,” Daghlas added.
The Israeli military, in its defense, issued a statement claiming that their forces had “responded with fire toward a main instigator of violent activity who hurled rocks” and that they were investigating reports about the killing of a foreign national.
The Israeli military, in its defense, issued a statement claiming that their forces had “responded with fire toward a main instigator of violent activity who hurled rocks” and that they were investigating reports about the killing of a foreign national.
International Reactions
The international community responded swiftly to the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew and US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller both expressed that the US was “urgently gathering more information” about the circumstances surrounding her death. Lew emphasized the US government's concern, stating that the “safety and security of American citizens” is a top priority.
Turkey condemned the killing, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs releasing a powerful statement accusing Israel of attempting to intimidate those who peacefully stand against the violence perpetrated on Palestinians. The Turkish government warned that the Israeli authorities responsible for the killing would be held accountable before international courts. “This policy of violence will not work,” the statement read.
Human rights organizations also voiced their shock and outrage. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor criticized Israel’s likely response of conducting a sham investigation, stating that only international sanctions would deter such atrocities. The UK-based Peace and Justice Project echoed these concerns, calling Eygi’s death the result of “an emboldened Israel” that continues to commit acts of ethnic cleansing, supported by Western governments.
Human rights organizations also voiced their shock and outrage. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor criticized Israel’s likely response of conducting a sham investigation, stating that only international sanctions would deter such atrocities. The UK-based Peace and Justice Project echoed these concerns, calling Eygi’s death the result of “an emboldened Israel” that continues to commit acts of ethnic cleansing, supported by Western governments.
Continued Violence in the Occupied West Bank
Eygi’s death is part of a larger pattern of escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, especially as settler violence against Palestinians has surged since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October. She was a member of the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led group that advocates for nonviolent resistance against the ongoing occupation. The group has long been critical of Israeli policies, particularly in the West Bank, where illegal settlements continue to grow, despite international condemnation.
The majority of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. US President Joe Biden’s administration has also described the settlements as “inconsistent with international law,” but the US has historically shielded Israel from diplomatic repercussions, frequently using its veto power in the United Nations Security Council.
Eygi’s death is yet another grim reminder of the ongoing human rights violations in the region, and her killing highlights the dangerous conditions faced by those who protest against Israeli occupation and settlements. Despite calls for justice and accountability, the cycle of violence and impunity seems set to continue.
The majority of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. US President Joe Biden’s administration has also described the settlements as “inconsistent with international law,” but the US has historically shielded Israel from diplomatic repercussions, frequently using its veto power in the United Nations Security Council.
Eygi’s death is yet another grim reminder of the ongoing human rights violations in the region, and her killing highlights the dangerous conditions faced by those who protest against Israeli occupation and settlements. Despite calls for justice and accountability, the cycle of violence and impunity seems set to continue.
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