The family of a US activist killed by Israeli forces is still awaiting a call from President Biden.
At a Glance
- Top US officials urged Israel to modify its operations after American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed in the West Bank.
- President Biden called the incident an “accident”; Blinken and Austin termed it “unprovoked and unjustified.”
- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged a reassessment of the Israeli military’s rules of engagement.
- Eygi was participating in a protest against Israeli settlements when she was shot.
- The family is seeking a personal acknowledgment from President Biden.
The Tragic Incident
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a US activist holding Turkish citizenship, was fatally shot by Israeli forces during a protest against Israeli settlements. The incident occurred in the West Bank amid heightened violence following the Israel-Hamas war. Eygi was a recent graduate of the University of Washington and a dedicated volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), attending a weekly demonstration against settlement expansion.
Eyewitnesses reported that the demonstration, described initially as peaceful, escalated into violence, with protesters throwing stones and Israeli troops responding with live ammunition. Eygi was shot in the head, and her family claims she was deliberately targeted. According to medical reports, two doctors confirmed the fatal headshot. The US government has called on Israel to investigate the incident thoroughly and is addressing the matter at senior levels.
Reactions and Official Statements
In response to the killing, President Joe Biden termed the incident an “accident,” causing significant dismay among Eygi’s family, who felt their suffering was being overlooked. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin took a harsher stance, labeling the killing as “unprovoked and unjustified” and urged Israel to reassess its rules of engagement in the West Bank. “No one should be shot and killed for attending a protest,” remarked a senior US diplomat.
The Israeli military initially claimed that Eygi was unintentionally hit by fire aimed at the supposed instigator of a riot. However, this explanation has been rejected by Eygi’s family and the ISM, who have called the incident a calculated attack. The International Solidarity Movement underscored Eygi’s commitment by noting the fatalities of other activists in similar protests.
Seeking Presidential Acknowledgment
Eygi’s family has voiced their dismay and frustration over the absence of direct communication from President Biden. They believe a personal acknowledgment would significantly highlight their plight and potentially bring justice and visibility to their case. The insistence for a Presidential call underscores their hope that their daughter’s tragic death will not be ignored in the international arena.
Deeply disturbed by the lack of accountability, US Senator Chris Van Hollen has criticized the Biden administration for not adequately pursuing justice for American citizens killed in the region. Other human rights groups and international observers have echoed these sentiments, pointing to an ongoing lack of accountability for Israeli forces involved in such fatalities.
