Israeli Troops Kill Turkish-American Woman at West Bank Protest, Officials Report

By Ali Sawafta

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – A Turkish-American woman was shot and killed by Israeli troops during a protest against settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, according to Palestinian and Turkish officials.

The White House expressed deep concern over the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, urging Israel to conduct an investigation. Turkey’s foreign ministry stated that she was shot in the head and placed responsibility for her death on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Palestinian authorities identified Eygi as a 26-year-old activist from Seattle who held both U.S. and Turkish citizenship. She had recently graduated from the University of Washington, where the president, Ana Mari Cauce, described the news of her death as "awful," highlighting her positive impact on fellow students.

Eygi studied psychology as well as Middle Eastern languages and cultures. Her family issued a statement through a pro-Palestinian organization, noting her involvement in campus protests against U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. They called on President Biden and Vice President Harris to initiate an independent investigation into her death.

Aria Fani, an assistant professor at the University of Washington, recounted her conversation with Eygi prior to her trip to the West Bank, expressing concern for her safety. Eygi’s passion for human rights and commitment to advocacy drove her to participate in the protest.

The Israeli military, in response to the incident, stated that troops fired towards a male individual who was allegedly throwing rocks at them. They are currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding Eygi’s death to understand how she was injured.

Fouad Nafaa, the head of Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, reported that Eygi arrived at the facility in critical condition with a significant head injury. Unfortunately, efforts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead.

The Palestinian Authority’s news agency indicated that Eygi was killed during a routine protest march in Beita, a village near Nablus that has frequently experienced violence from settlers.

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen noted that Eygi was the third American to die in the West Bank since the outbreak of conflict following Hamas militants’ attack on Israel on October 7. He criticized the Biden Administration for not doing enough to seek justice in these cases, suggesting that if the Israeli government fails to act, the U.S. Department of Justice must step in.

Turkey’s President Erdogan condemned Eygi’s death via social media, emphasizing Turkey’s commitment to oppose what he described as Israel’s occupation policies.

In another incident reported on the same day, a 13-year-old girl was killed by Israeli gunfire during related unrest in the village of Qaryut, after settlers reportedly attacked the area. The Israeli military is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The rise in violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers has raised alarm among Israel’s Western allies, including the United States, which has imposed sanctions on some individuals within the settler movement.

Following the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank, which Palestinians envision as part of their future state. The settlements there are deemed illegal by most nations, a classification that Israel disputes based on historical and biblical claims.