The White House asked Israel to look into the murder of American citizen Aysenur Eygi, 26, in the occupied West Bank on Friday.
White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett stated in a statement, “We are deeply disturbed by the tragic death of an American citizen, Aysenur Egzi Eygi, today in the West Bank and our hearts go out to her family and loved ones.” “We are requesting further information and an investigation into the incident from the Israeli government, which we have contacted.”
Eygi was confirmed to be participating in the weekly rally against the growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank held by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the village of Beita, north of Ramallah.
The group stated in a statement that the demonstration “primarily involved men and children praying” and that the IDF used live bullets after firing tear gas.
According to the ISM, Eygi was wounded in the head and passed away soon after being brought to a Nablus hospital. According to the ISM, Eygi is the only non-Palestinian protestor to have been slain in Beita since 2020, making her the 18th.
“Responded with fire toward a main instigator of violent activity who hurled rocks at the forces and posed a threat to them,” the Israel Defense soldiers said of their presence in the vicinity of Beita.
The IDF stated, “We are investigating reports that a foreign national was killed due to gunfire in the area.” “We are reviewing the incident’s specifics and the circumstances surrounding her hit.”
Eygi had citizenship in both Turkey and the United States. Recep Erdogan, the president of Turkey, denounced Israel’s “barbaric intervention against a civilian protest against the occupation in the West Bank” in a statement.
According to Eygi’s LinkedIn page, she holds a degree in psychology with a minor in the languages and cultures of the Middle East. She also states that she is dedicated to helping underprivileged people.
“I’m driven by a passion for making a positive impact and continuously seek opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to meaningful projects,” she wrote.
Eygi was a recent graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, and the president of the university described the news of her passing as “awful.”
President Ana Mari Cauce stated in a statement, “My heart goes out to Aysenur’s family, friends, and loved ones.” “Aysenur was a peer mentor in psychology who helped welcome new students to the department and provided a positive influence in their lives.”
According to Cauce, Eygi is the second UW community member to pass away in a violent incident in the area. “I again join with our government and so many who are working and calling for a ceasefire and resolution to the crisis,” she added.
Since October 7, at least two more American nationals have perished in the West Bank. Tawfic Hafeth Abdel Jabbar, also 17, was slain by Israeli fire in January, while Mohammed Ahmed Mohammad Khdour, 17, was killed by IDF forces in February.
Over the past few years, Israeli settlements have grown quickly, and settler violence against Palestinians has increased. A study published by Human Rights Watch in April claimed that Palestinian inhabitants of at least five West Bank settlements were forcefully and forcibly evicted by armed settlers “with the active participation of army units.”
After carrying out a murderous operation that has destroyed communities throughout the city and beyond, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) appears to be pulling out of Jenin and other areas of the West Bank.
The chief of Hamas’ presence in Jenin, Wassem Hazem, was among the at least 14 terrorists the IDF reported had been killed. According to the IDF, Hazem was responsible for directing shooting and bomb strikes in the region.
Additionally, the IDF detained around thirty individuals as suspects; nevertheless, the military withheld specific allegations against them.
According to Palestinian health officials, since Israel began what it called an operation on August 28 to destroy “terrorist cells” in the West Bank, at least 39 Palestinians have died there. This information was released on Thursday.
Several of the deceased have been identified as members of the terrorist organizations Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, however the Palestinian health ministry has stated that at least eight children were also slain during that period.
As stated in a humanitarian update released on Wednesday, “Israeli forces have been using lethal, war-like tactics across the northern West Bank for over a week, deepening people’s humanitarian needs and raising concerns over excessive use of force.”
According to OCHA, 30 Palestinians were murdered by Israeli troops in the area between August 27 and September 2, including seven children. This “marks the highest weekly death toll since November 2023.”
Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American journalist for Al Jazeera who was documenting operations in the occupied West Bank at the time, was fatally shot by one of Israel’s troops, the country acknowledged in 2022. The Israeli army has not disclosed any disciplinary actions, nor has anybody been charged.
