A US-Turkish activist in the Palestinian West Bank, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, was shot dead by Israeli forces as he joined a weekly protest against Jewish settlement expansion in the town of Beita near Nablus. The Israeli military said it was investigating reports that a foreigner was killed by gunfire in the area.
Eygi’s family said they were shocked and saddened by the loss of the compassionate and passionate human rights activist. His family showed a video of Eygi being killed by an Israeli military gunman and called on the US to investigate.
Israeli Jewish activist Jonathan Pollak, who was at the protest, told the BBC World Service’s Newshour programme that he saw soldiers on the roof taking aim. He heard two separate shots, about a second or two apart.
“I heard someone calling my name and saying in English, ‘Help us. We need help. We need help.’ I ran towards them,” he said.
He then saw Eygi lying on the ground under an olive tree. His head was bleeding and he was completely motionless.
“I put my hand behind his back to try to stop the bleeding,” he said. “I looked up, there was a clear line of sight between the soldiers and where we were. I checked his pulse and his pulse was very, very weak,” he added.
Also read: Ezgi Eygi Killed by Israeli Bullets
He added that it was the first time Eygi had attended a protest with the International Solidarity Movement that day. The dual national activist was rushed to a hospital in Nablus and was later pronounced dead.
In his interview with the BBC, Jonathan Pollak was asked about the IDF’s statement that the Israeli military said security forces were responding to stone throwing.
Pollak said there were clashes but he did not feel the soldiers were under threat. “There was no stone throwing where he was,” he said.
Also read: Israel Leaves the West Bank in a Melting Ruin
Eygi’s family said they were facing the bitter reality that she was gone. “Like the olive tree from which she took her last breath, Aysenur was strong, beautiful and healthy. Her presence in our lives was taken away unnecessarily, unlawfully and violently by the Israeli military,” the family said.
She was a loving daughter, sister, partner, and aunt who was gentle, brave, silly, supportive, and a ray of sunshine, and lived her life by nurturing those in need with action.
Eygi was born in Antalya, according to Turkish media. He graduated three months ago from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he studied psychology and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures.
Read also: Israel shoots dead Turkish-US activist in West Bank
He was active in student-led protests on campus and felt compelled to travel to the West Bank to stand in solidarity with Palestinian civilians.
Washington University President Ana Mari Cauce described the news of Eygi’s death as “terrible.” The former student had been a positive influence on other students.
The head of Rafidia Hospital where Eygi was treated, Dr Fouad Nafaa, confirmed that a US citizen died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Israeli security forces near the Beita area only returned fire toward the main instigators of the violent activity who were throwing rocks at the troops and posing a threat to them.
“The IDF is investigating reports that a foreign national was killed by gunfire in the area. Details of the incident and the circumstances in which he was hit are under review,” it said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken deplored the tragic incident. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of barbaric actions.
The US has urged Israel to investigate the incident. Sean Savett, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the White House was saddened by the tragic death of an American citizen. “We have reached out to the Israeli government to request more information and to ask for an investigation into the incident,” Savett said.
In a statement, Eygi’s family said that given the circumstances, the Israeli investigation was suboptimal and called on the US to conduct an independent investigation and ensure full accountability for those responsible.
“We want to see a full investigation into the circumstances and hold people accountable,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. “Civilians, at all times, must be protected,” he said.
Footage from the scene shortly after the shooting showed medics carrying Eygi to an ambulance.
Israeli forces withdrew from the city of Jenin and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Friday, after a major nine-day operation there.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 36 Palestinians were killed in the period. Most of the deaths were claimed by armed groups as their members. But the ministry said children were also among the dead.
In the past 50 years, Israel has built settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where more than 700,000 Jews live.
Settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel rejects this. (BBC/Z-2)
#JewishIsraeli #Activist #Jonathan #Pollak #Witnesses #Murder #Ezgi #Eygi
What led to the tragic death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi during the protest in the West Bank?
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Tragic Death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi: A US-Turkish Activist Killed by Israeli Forces in West Bank
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old US-Turkish activist, was tragically shot dead by Israeli forces on September 6, 2024, during a weekly protest against Jewish settlement expansion in the town of Beita, near Nablus, in the West Bank [[1][3]]. Eygi was a passionate human rights activist who was active in student-led protests on campus and felt compelled to travel to the West Bank to stand in solidarity with Palestinian civilians [[1]].
Eygi’s family was shocked and saddened by her loss, describing her as a loving daughter, sister, partner, and aunt who was gentle, brave, silly, supportive, and a ray of sunshine [[1]]. They released a video of Eygi being killed by an Israeli military gunman and called on the US to investigate [[1]]. Israeli Jewish activist Jonathan Pollak, who was at the protest, witnessed the shooting and said that Eygi was lying on the ground under an olive tree, bleeding from the head and completely motionless [[1]].
The Israeli military claimed that they were responding to stone throwing, but Pollak denied this, stating that there was no stone throwing where Eygi was [[1]]. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were investigating reports of a foreign national killed by gunfire in the area, but Eygi’s family and the US government have called for an independent investigation into the incident [[1][2]].
The international community has condemned the incident, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken deploring the tragic incident and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing Israel of barbaric actions [[1]]. The UN has also called for a full investigation into the circumstances and for holding people accountable [[1]].
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was born in Antalya, Turkey, and graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she studied psychology and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures [[1]]. She was a dual national activist who was rushed to a hospital in Nablus and later pronounced dead after being shot by Israeli forces [[1]].
This tragic incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from around the world, highlighting the need for accountability and justice for those responsible. The international community must come together to demand an end to the Israeli occupation and to protect the human rights of Palestinian civilians.
References:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KillingofAysenur_Eygi”>[2]
SEO keywords: Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, US-Turkish activist, Israeli forces, West Bank, human rights, Palestinian civilians, Israeli occupation.
What were the circumstances surrounding the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank?
Tragic Death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi: Turkish-American Activist Shot Dead by Israeli Forces in West Bank
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American activist, was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Friday in Beita, near Nablus, in the West Bank, while participating in a weekly protest against Jewish settlement expansion. Eygi, a recent graduate of the University of Washington, was a dual national who studied psychology and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. She was born in Antalya, Turkey, and was known for her gentle, brave, and supportive nature, always nurturing those in need with action.
Eygi’s family was shocked and saddened by her sudden loss, and they released a video of the incident, calling on the US to investigate her death. Israeli forces claimed they were responding to stone throwing, but Israeli Jewish activist Jonathan Pollak, who was present at the protest, disputed this account, stating that there was no stone throwing where Eygi was shot. Pollak witnessed the shooting and described seeing soldiers on the roof taking aim, hearing two separate shots, and then rushing to Eygi’s side, where he found her lying on the ground under an olive tree, bleeding profusely.
The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from around the world. Washington University President Ana Mari Cauce described the news of Eygi’s death as “terrible,” adding that the former student had been a positive influence on her peers. The head of Rafidia Hospital, where Eygi was treated, confirmed that a US citizen died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was an active participant in student-led protests on campus and felt compelled to travel to the West Bank to stand in solidarity with Palestinian civilians. Her family described her as a loving daughter, sister, partner, and aunt who lived her life by nurturing those in need with action.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have launched an investigation into the incident, but Eygi’s family and human rights activists are demanding accountability and justice for her senseless killing. As the world mourns the loss of this young and brave activist, her memory will live on, inspiring others to stand up for human rights and justice.
Sources:
* [3]
Keywords: Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, Turkish-American activist, West Bank, Israeli forces, Jewish settlement expansion, human rights, Palestine, Israel.
