A US citizen, Ayşenur Eygi was fatally shot during a demonstration in the West Bank village of Beita on Friday, confirmed the US State Department. Citing a Palestinian doctor Dr. Ward Basalat, Associated Press reported that 26-years-old, also known as Izgy was shot in the head and died after arriving at the hospital. She was among several Americans protesting illegal Israeli settlement expansion and providing nonviolent support to Palestinian communities.
Eygi held dual citizenship with Turkey and had arrived in the region three days earlier as part of the International Solidarity Movement, a group advocating for Palestinian rights. The incident took place during a weekly protest where American volunteer Amado Sison was shot last month. The US State Department expressed its condolences and announced it was gathering more information on the circumstances of Eygi’s death.
“We are aware of the tragic death of an American citizen, Aysenur Eygi, today in the West Bank. We offer our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. We are urgently gathering more information about the circumstances of her death, and will have more to say as we learn more. We have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,” said US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller.
Eygi’s death follows a string of escalating violence against Americans in the West Bank. In recent weeks, Israeli settlers have attacked US volunteers, hurling rocks and firecrackers, leaving several injured. Despite these incidents, there has been limited response from the US government. Hala Rharrit, former Arabic language spokesperson for the US State Department, has criticized the Biden administration for what she perceives as a lack of strong condemnation.
“The very least to expect at the moment is a strong statement from President Biden, similar to what we heard after the horrific killings of the six Israeli hostages,” said Rharrit. “Every life should be equal, and we should hear the same condemnation from our president for the killing of this American citizen at the hands of what is reported to be the Israeli army,” she added.
On Friday, the White House issued a statement saying it was “deeply disturbed” by the killing and had contacted Israeli authorities to request an investigation into the incident.
Eygi’s involvement with the International Solidarity Movement draws parallels to the 2003 death of Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza. Eygi, like Corrie, was part of a nonviolent effort to protect Palestinians from military actions. Her death, according to those on the ground, could have been avoided.
“If the American government and media took action after Amado got shot, her life could have been saved today. She was shot under almost exactly the same situation and context,” said Anthony, one of the American volunteers who was attacked earlier in the week. He further expressed frustration that the violence continued even as people mourned Eygi’s death., said, “It’s very disheartening that the occupation doesn’t even give us a moment to mourn our loss of a fellow volunteer.”
The larger context of the violence, according to political analyst Yousef Munayyer, lies in Washington’s continued support for Israel, even as violence against US citizens escalates. He pointed to the U.S. government’s reluctance to hold Israel accountable for the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and others.
“This has sort of been the message, and clearly the Israelis have gotten it,” Munayyer said. “They got it with Shireen Abu Akleh and the way that the Biden administration brushed that all under the rug and they’ve acted accordingly.”
Earlier this week, settlers reportedly attacked US citizens assisting a shepherd in the Palestinian village of Qusra, leaving two injured, one requiring stitches. Israeli soldiers, according to footage, responded with limited intervention, even throwing stun grenades at the Americans. “The consistent message from Washington is that some Americans matter more than others,” said Munayyer.
Ironically, back in February, US President Joe Biden released a statement, after US strikes against 85 Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria, saying “If you harm an American, we will respond,” but now the US leaders have remained largely silent despite the growing numbers of American casualties.
About Author
Leave a Reply