Aysenur Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American, was fatally shot by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Friday while participating in a protest near Nablus, according to US and Palestinian officials.
Eygi was reportedly shot in the head by Israeli troops responding to the demonstration. She had been involved in a weekly protest against an Israeli settlement near the Palestinian village of Beita. Eyewitnesses reported that she was hit as Israeli forces fired at protesters.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) admitted to firing at demonstrators but claimed they targeted an individual they believed posed a threat. The IDF is now "looking into reports" of the foreign national's death.
Eygi was volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), the same group associated with Rachel Corrie, a US citizen killed by Israeli forces in 2003 while trying to block the demolition of Palestinian homes.
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce expressed sorrow over Eygi's death, highlighting her positive impact as a peer mentor in psychology.
Protests at Beita are frequent due to its proximity to the Israeli settler outpost Evyatar. The settlement, now legalized, is considered illegal under international law.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Eygi arrived at Rafidia Governmental Hospital with severe gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead after medical efforts.
Eygi held dual US and Turkish citizenship. The US and Turkish governments are investigating the incident, with Turkey holding Israel responsible for her death.
Eyewitnesses described the events leading up to her killing, with claims that Israeli soldiers deliberately targeted Eygi. She was reportedly shot in the head while crouched behind a dumpster during the protest.
Dr. Hisham Dweikat, a resident of Beita, said live fire was used as the protest was ending, hitting Eygi from behind. Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli activist, also described how Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at the peaceful demonstration, resulting in Eygi's death.
ISM, founded in 2001, is a Palestinian-led group that uses non-violent methods to resist the oppression of Palestinians. The organization's supporters, including Eygi, aim to highlight and combat the ongoing Israeli occupation and settlement expansion.
