US Government Calls for Reform of Israeli Actions in West Bank Following Death of US Citizen, Reports Reuters

By Daphne Psaledakis and Steven Scheer

LONDON/JERUSALEM – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanded a significant change in Israeli military practices in the occupied West Bank following the tragic death of an American protester opposing settlement expansion. Israel has described the incident as accidental.

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American, was shot and killed during a protest march in Beita, a village near Nablus that has seen repeated violence from far-right Jewish settlers. Eygi’s family has expressed their outrage and called for an independent U.S. investigation, labeling Israel’s preliminary inquiry as "wholly inadequate."

The Israeli military reported that its initial investigation indicated the likelihood that its troops fired the shot that killed Eygi, emphasizing that the incident was unintentional and expressing deep regret. However, Palestinian officials contended that Eygi was shot in the head.

In response to President Biden’s comments attributing the death to a ricochet, Eygi’s partner, Hamid Ali, insisted that her death was "no accident" and called for accountability for her killers, highlighting that they had yet to hear from the White House.

In their statements, Blinken and Austin expressed strong criticism of the Israeli security forces, categorizing the killing as "unprovoked and unjustified." Blinken insisted that safety and the right to protest must be upheld, stating, "No one should be shot and killed for attending a protest."

The Israeli government has not commented on these statements. In a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Austin conveyed "grave concern" regarding the IDF’s conduct and urged a reexamination of their engagement rules in the West Bank.

The Israeli military confirmed that an investigation by its Military Police is underway, and findings will be reviewed at higher levels. The White House indicated it will closely monitor the situation.

The Israeli military specified that an initial investigation revealed that the gunfire was not directed at Eygi but at another individual they described as the "key instigator of the riot." They noted the chaos at the scene involved Palestinians burning tires and throwing rocks at security forces.

Eygi’s family rejected any suggestion that her death was unintentional, emphasizing the unacceptability of the situation. The growing violence from settler assaults against Palestinians has ignited concern among Western allies, including the U.S., which has imposed sanctions on individuals connected to the extreme settler movement.

Protests against the expansion of the nearby Evyatar settler outpost have been ongoing in Beita since 2020. Ultra-nationalist members of Israel’s government have pushed to legalize previously unauthorized outposts like Evyatar, a move the U.S. argues undermines stability in the West Bank and the prospects for a two-state solution.

Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has maintained control over the West Bank, an area Palestinians seek to establish as the heart of an independent state. Israel has also built numerous settlements deemed illegal by most countries, although Israel disputes this characterization, citing historical and biblical justifications for its claims to the territory.