Israeli soldiers killed a Turkish-American activist: Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi

Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was a 26-year-old Turkish-American human rights activist and volunteer who was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank on September 6, 2024. Here are the key details about her and the circumstances of her death:

Background

• Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was born on July 27, 1998 in Antalya, Turkey[1].
• She grew up in Seattle, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington in June 2024 with a degree in psychology and a minor in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures[1][6].
• Eygi was involved in pro-Palestinian activism and had previously protested against the Dakota Access Pipeline[6].

Activism in the West Bank

• Eygi arrived in the West Bank on September 3, 2024 to volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led organization advocating non-violent resistance against Israeli occupation[2][6].
• She was participating in protests in Beita, near Nablus, against Israeli settlement expansion[6].

Death

• On September 6, 2024, Eygi was shot in the head during a protest in Beita against the Israeli settlement of Evyatar[1][6].
• According to witnesses, Israeli soldiers surrounded protesters after a communal prayer. When protesters threw stones, soldiers responded with tear gas and live ammunition[6].
• About 30 minutes after confrontations had ended, two Israeli soldiers on a nearby rooftop fired into the retreating crowd. One shot hit Eygi in the head, while another wounded a Palestinian protester in the leg[6].
• Eygi was rushed to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus but died shortly after arrival[1][6].

Reactions

• The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the killing as “murder” and called for those responsible to be brought to justice[7].
• The U.S. State Department confirmed Eygi’s death and called for an Israeli investigation[6].
• The United Nations called for a “full investigation” and for those responsible to be held accountable[7].
• Eygi’s family demanded an independent investigation, stating her life was taken “needlessly, unlawfully and violently by the Israeli military”[7].

Eygi’s death has sparked international outrage and calls for accountability, highlighting the ongoing tensions and violence in the occupied West Bank.

Citations:
1. Wikipedia – Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi
2. Anadolu Agency – Turkish-American Activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi Killed in West Bank
3. Cumhuriyet – Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi Kimdir?
4. Anlatılanın Ötesi – Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi’nin Otopsi Raporu Tamamlandı
5. Medyatava – Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi Kimdir?
6. Wikipedia – Killing of Aysenur Eygi
7. Sky News – Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi’s Family Speaks Out
8. BBC Türkçe – Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi’nin Ölümü