A US citizen of Turkish origin was shot dead by the Israeli army while she was participating in an anti-colonial demonstration in the West Bank, according to the official Palestinian news agency.
An American woman of Turkish origin was killed this Friday in the West Bank by an Israeli soldier’s gunfire, according to the official Palestinian agency Wafa.
Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, according to Palestinian officials and witnesses, was shot in the head by Israeli troops during a protest against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The 26-year-old pro-Palestinian activist was taking part in a protest against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the town of Beita, south of Nablus. She was placed in intensive care at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The Israeli Army reacted on X, claiming that his soldiers “had responded with fire against an instigator of violence who had thrown stones at the forces and posed a threat to them.”
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which organizes foreign volunteers in the Palestinian territories, said Israeli forces “intentionally shot and killed an international human rights activist” during the weekly protest on Friday morning.
“The demonstration, which was attended mainly by men and children praying, was met with violence by the Israeli army stationed on a hill. The volunteer died shortly after being taken to a local hospital in Nablus,” ISM said in a statement.
Eygi is the third ISM activist to be killed since 2000, according to the Associated Press. She is the 18th protester to be killed in Beita since 2020, according to the ISM.
American and Turkish reactions
The spokesperson of the Department of StateMatthew Miller, confirmed the death of the 26-year-old woman, born in Turkey as Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi.
The Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “to deplore” the death of the American citizen, while the white house declared itself “deeply troubled” by his assassination.
Washington also called on Israel to investigate the killing, which sparked strong reactions from the international community.
The spokesperson of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign AffairsOncu Keceli, added that “Every possible effort would be made to ensure that those who killed our citizen are brought to justice.”
36 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in Jenin
The incident comes as the IDF withdrew from the city of Jenin on Friday, after a vast “anti-terrorist” operation resulting in the death of 36 Palestinians and significant material damage, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, at least 691 people have been killed and more than 5,700 have been injured by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The ministry generally does not distinguish between civilians and militants when referring to casualties.
Additional sources • The Guardian, adaptation: Serge Duchêne
