A 26-year-old American woman, also a Turkish citizen, was shot dead during a protest in the occupied West Bank on Friday. Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was participating in a demonstration against the expansion of Jewish settlements in Beita, near Nablus, when she was allegedly shot by Israeli troops. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it is “looking into reports that a foreign national was killed as a result of shots fired in the area.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed sorrow over the “tragic loss,” promising that further information will be shared as it becomes available and that necessary actions will be taken.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed Eygi’s identity and stated that Washington is “urgently gathering more information about the circumstances of her death.” He extended his “deepest condolences” to her family, a sentiment echoed by US ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, who emphasized the importance of American citizens’ safety and security.
Eygi, born in Antalya, Turkey, was reported by Turkish media to have been killed by “Israeli occupation soldiers in the city of Nablus.” She was rushed to a hospital in Nablus with a gunshot wound to the head and was later pronounced dead. Dr. Fouad Naffa, head of the hospital, confirmed that the US citizen in her mid-20s died from a gunshot wound.
The IDF’s statement indicated that during their activity near Beita, Israeli security forces fired at a main instigator of violent activity who was allegedly throwing rocks and posing a threat to them.
“The IDF is looking into reports that a foreign national was killed as a result of shots fired in the area. The details of the incident and the circumstances in which she was hit are under review.”
Reports from Palestinian media indicate that the 26-year-old woman had been actively involved in efforts to protect farmers from violence by Israeli settlers.
Her death follows the recent withdrawal of Israeli forces from Jenin city and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, after a major nine-day operation. During this operation, at least 36 Palestinians were killed, including 21 from Jenin governorate, according to the Palestinian health ministry. While armed groups have claimed most of the deceased as members, the ministry reports that children were also among the casualties.
Over the past 50 years, Israel has established settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where more than 700,000 Jews currently reside. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, a stance supported by the UN Security Council and the UK government, although Israel disputes this classification.
