JERUSALEM – The tragic killing of Turkish American national, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the occupied West Bank during a protest sparked outrage, as Kewish forces opened fire on her.
Eygi, 26, appeared in a demonstration against expansion of Jewish settlements in Beita, near Nablus, and was shot by Israeli troops on Friday. This was Eygi’s first protest with the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian group.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned her killing, calling it barbaric while Ankara’s foreign ministry stated that Eygi was killed by Israeli forces. White House urged an investigation but did not assign blame. U.S. officials are seeking more information about the circumstances surrounding her death.
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi
The deceased was taken to a Nablus hospital where she was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Activist Jonathan Pollak, who was present on site, said Eygi was shot in the area where no rocks were hurled on Israeli forces.
This incident comes after a nine-day Israeli military operation in Jenin, which left at least 36 Palestinians dead, including children. While many of the casualties were identified as militants, civilians were also among those killed. Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, considered illegal by international law, continue to be a point of contention, although Israel disputes this classification.
Eygi recently graduated from University of Washington in Seattle, and was known for her strong commitment to social justice and advocacy. She was involved in protests and activism focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, driven by her desire to oppose the occupation and settlement expansion in the region.
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