- Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American woman, was shot and killed during a protest against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. (CNN)
- The Israeli military confirmed it responded with fire toward a protester hurling rocks, but an investigation is ongoing into whether Eygi was killed as a result. (Fox News)
- Eygi was a recent graduate of the University of Washington and a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement, known for non-violent activism. (AP News)
- Eyewitnesses and activists claim the protest was peaceful, but tensions escalated with Israeli military intervention. (Al Jazeera)
From the perspective of the Israeli military, the shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was part of a broader effort to maintain security during a protest that turned violent. The IDF stated that its forces fired in response to a main instigator who posed a threat by hurling rocks. In this view, the military’s actions were justified to prevent further escalation and protect soldiers from harm, and any civilian casualties were unintended consequences of a difficult security situation.
From the perspective of Eygi’s fellow activists and eyewitnesses, the shooting represents an unjustified and lethal overreaction by Israeli forces. Protesters claim that the demonstration was peaceful at the time of the shooting, and Eygi, who was part of a non-violent activist group, was not posing any immediate threat. The use of live ammunition against unarmed protesters is seen as a violation of human rights, with accusations that Israeli soldiers target international activists to intimidate those supporting Palestinian causes.
From a U.S. and international human rights perspective, there is a call for accountability and a thorough investigation into Eygi’s death. The U.S. government, alongside Turkey, has demanded an inquiry to determine if excessive force was used, particularly against a foreign national. This perspective emphasizes the need for justice, not only for Eygi but for other American citizens previously killed in similar incidents, amid concerns that Israel is not held accountable for such actions under international law.

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Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American activist, was fatally shot during a protest in the West Bank, sparking widespread calls for an investigation. According to multiple sources, including CNN and AP News, Eygi was participating in a protest against Israeli settlements in the Palestinian town of Beita, located near Nablus. Eygi, who was a recent graduate from the University of Washington, had been volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a group known for its non-violent activism in support of Palestinian causes. The Israeli military confirmed firing live ammunition at the protest, claiming that the shots were aimed at a main instigator of violent activity who was throwing rocks and posing a threat to their soldiers. However, the military’s statement also noted that they were investigating reports of a foreign national's death in the area.
Eyewitness accounts paint a different picture. According to Al Jazeera, several activists and witnesses claim that Eygi was not posing any threat and that the protest had largely de-escalated before the shots were fired. Eygi was reportedly crouched near a dumpster when she was hit in the head by a bullet, as the Israeli military fired on a group of demonstrators who were retreating. A fellow activist told The Guardian that the protesters were mostly peaceful and that Eygi’s death appeared to be a targeted act, given the lack of movement from the protestors at the time of the shooting. Video footage shared with CNN showed paramedics attempting to resuscitate Eygi before she was pronounced dead at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.
The U.S. and Turkish governments both expressed concern over the incident. The Guardian reported that the U.S. State Department confirmed Eygi’s death and indicated that they were seeking further information about the circumstances of the shooting. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident, holding Israel responsible for her death. Both governments have called for an investigation into whether the use of live ammunition was justified. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented during a press briefing, offering condolences to Eygi’s family and stating that the Biden administration would gather all the facts before deciding on further actions (Fox News). Despite this, critics of U.S. foreign policy, as reported by Al Jazeera, have questioned whether the U.S. will hold Israel accountable, pointing to previous cases of U.S. citizens killed by Israeli forces that have not resulted in significant policy changes or criminal investigations.
Eygi’s death occurred amid a period of heightened tension in the West Bank, with ongoing clashes between Israeli settlers, the military, and Palestinian civilians. According to AP News, the region has seen a sharp increase in violence since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October. The protest Eygi was attending was one of many that have been held weekly in Beita against the expansion of Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. The International Solidarity Movement, with which Eygi was volunteering, has stated that 17 Palestinians have been killed in these protests since 2020, and Eygi is the third international ISM activist killed since 2000, joining the ranks of Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurndall, both of whom were also killed by Israeli forces while participating in pro-Palestinian activities (CBS News).
Eygi’s family and supporters are now calling for an independent investigation into her death. According to The Guardian, Eygi’s family described her as a passionate human rights activist who felt a deep sense of responsibility to stand in solidarity with Palestinian civilians. Her family’s statement calls on U.S. President Joe Biden and other U.S. leaders to ensure that those responsible for her death are held accountable. Meanwhile, activists and rights groups have emphasized the need for broader accountability in such incidents, citing a lack of consequences for Israeli military actions that result in civilian deaths. The event has reignited debates about the ongoing violence in the West Bank, the legality of Israeli settlements, and the international community’s role in addressing these issues (Reuters).
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