Turkish-American Activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, shot dead by Israeli Soldiers during West Bank Palestine Protest
An American activist, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, has been shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during an anti-settlement protest in the West Bank, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to The Associated Press.
 |
| Aysenur Ezgi Eygi protested Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank. -International Solidarity Movement |
Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American activist, was participating in a demonstration near the northern West Bank town of Beita, a site of regular protests against the Israeli settlement of Evyatar. The protests, which often turn violent, have seen confrontations between Palestinians, international activists, and Israeli forces.
Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli activist, described the incident, stating that soldiers opened fire on the group of protesters after clashes had calmed down. Eygi was struck by live ammunition fired by soldiers positioned on a nearby rooftop.
Two doctors confirmed she was shot in the head, and despite efforts to save her, she died from severe injuries. Eygi is the third activist from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) to be killed since 2000 while attempting to intervene in confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians.
 |
| Palestinians mourn Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, shot during West Bank protest. AP Photo |
The Israeli military recognized the reports and stated that they were investigating whether Eygi had been shot by their troops. They claimed that soldiers had fired at an individual they described as an "instigator of violent activity" who posed a threat to the forces.
Eygi’s death drew strong reactions from both the United States and Turkey. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed her death, while the White House expressed being "deeply disturbed." Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended condolences to Eygi’s family and vowed to gather the facts of the incident, promising action if necessary.
Read more: American Man Among Six Hostages Found Murdered After Hamas Abduction
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli condemned the killing, calling for justice and promising to hold those responsible accountable. The ministry released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), describing Eygi’s death as a "murder carried out by the Netanyahu government."
 |
| A protester waves Palestinian flag amid clashes at West Bank checkpoint - Associated Press/Majdi Mohammed |
Eygi’s death comes amid worsened tensions in the West Bank, where Israeli forces have been cracking down on Palestinian protests since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
Israeli authorities have been using live ammunition in these protests, which are often met with rock-throwing by Palestinian demonstrators. Palestinian officials condemned the killing, stating it demonstrates Israel’s increasingly aggressive oppression of protests in the occupied territories.
Read more: American Man Among Six Hostages Found Murdered After Hamas Abduction
The Israeli government recently legalized the settlement of Evyatar, which had previously been considered illegal even under Israeli law. Far-right Israeli ministers, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have defended the expansion of settlements as a response to international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, Palestinian health officials report that over 700 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank. The conflict has also resulted in increased attacks by Palestinian militants against Israeli targets in the territory. Israeli forces have conducted numerous counterterrorism operations, including a recent 10-day operation in Jenin that led to the deaths of 21 Palestinians, most of whom Israeli authorities identified as militants.
Eygi's death adds to the growing list of American citizens killed in the West Bank, with several similar incidents occurring during the ongoing conflict. Both U.S. and Israeli authorities are reportedly conducting investigations into these incidents, but findings have not yet been released.
Join Pride Moment Telegram Group & Follow us on Facebook and Twitter