The witness claimed that Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, from Seattle, was shot in the head while posing no threat to the soldiers during a moment of calm following earlier clashes. Eygi, a recent University of Washington graduate with dual U.S. and Turkish citizenship, was confirmed dead by U.S. officials, although they have not yet verified whether Israeli troops were responsible.
The White House has expressed deep concern over the incident and is calling for an investigation. The Israeli military stated it is examining reports that their forces may have shot a foreign national while targeting an "instigator of violent activity" at the protest.
The shooting occurred amid heightened violence in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. The region has seen a surge in Israeli raids, attacks by Palestinian militants, and military crackdowns on protests. Over 690 Palestinians have been killed in this period, according to health officials. On the same day, Israeli forces also killed a 13-year-old Palestinian girl, Bana Laboom, in a separate incident.
Eygi was participating in a weekly demonstration organized by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) against settlement expansion. Eygi's death follows a pattern of violence against activists and protesters. Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli protester, reported that Eygi was shot after clashes had deescalated, and two doctors confirmed she was shot in the head.
ISM reported that 17 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces at Beita protests since March 2020. The group also mentioned a recent incident where an American, Amado Sison, was shot by Israeli forces.
Eygi's former professor at the University of Washington, Aria Fani, described her as a compassionate activist who felt compelled to witness and document the situation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed that the U.S. is focused on determining the facts and will respond accordingly.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the killing and vowed to seek justice. Human rights organizations have criticized the lack of accountability for such incidents, noting that Israeli soldiers rarely face consequences. The Israeli military asserts that it investigates such cases and takes action if criminal wrongdoing is found.
Past cases involving activists from the International Solidarity Movement include Rachel Corrie, who was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003, and Tom Hurndall, who was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier. The military ruled Corrie’s death an accident, a conclusion rejected by many rights groups. Hurndall’s killer served a reduced prison term.
The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist, in 2022 also remains contentious, with the U.S. and Israel concluding that her death was likely a mistake but not pursuing a criminal investigation. A few other Americans have been killed in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began, with investigations still pending.
Senator Chris Van Hollen has criticized the Biden administration for not doing enough to seek justice for American citizens harmed in the conflict, calling for stronger U.S. action and accountability.
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