U.S.-Turkish Activist Killed in West Bank Protest, PA Holds Funeral
A U.S.-Turkish activist was fatally shot during a West Bank protest. The Palestinian Authority held a funeral, while Turkey works to repatriate her remains. Israeli military investigates the incident.
In a somber event, the Palestinian Authority (PA) conducted a funeral procession for Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old U.S.-Turkish dual national activist. Eygi was reportedly killed during a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, an area that has been under Israeli control since 1967.
The funeral, held in Nablus, one of the largest Palestinian cities in the West Bank, was attended by numerous mourners, including prominent PA officials. Security forces carried Eygi's body, draped in a Palestinian flag, with her face covered by a keffiyeh - a traditional black-and-white checkered scarf that has become a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.
Oncu Keceli, a spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, stated that efforts were underway to repatriate Eygi's remains to Didim, a popular tourist resort on Turkey's Aegean coast, as per her family's wishes. However, the process has been complicated by the closure of the land crossing from Palestinian territories to Jordan, prompting the ministry to explore options for direct air transport to Turkey.
The incident that led to Eygi's death occurred during a protest against Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli peace activist present at the demonstration, reported that Israeli forces shot Eygi while she posed no threat. According to Pollak, the shooting happened during a calm period after clashes between soldiers and protesters.
The Israeli military has stated that it is investigating reports of troops killing a foreign national while targeting an "instigator of violent activity" in the protest area. This incident adds to the surge of violence in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, nearly 11 months ago.
The West Bank, home to approximately 3 million Palestinians and over 400,000 Israeli settlers, has seen an increase in Israeli military raids, attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis, and violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. These events underscore the ongoing tensions in a region that has been at the center of conflict for decades.
The use of live ammunition by Israeli forces against protesters has been a subject of criticism by human rights organizations. As a U.S.-Turkish dual national, Eygi would have been entitled to consular assistance from both countries, adding an international dimension to this tragic event.
As the investigation into Eygi's death continues, her case highlights the complex and often dangerous nature of activism in the West Bank, where protests against Israeli settlements are common and frequently met with force.
