Family of 26-year-old US citizen killed during protests in occupied territories west bank said an Israeli military gunman killed her and said Israel’s investigation into the incident was not enough.
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) said Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a recent graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, was shot and killed during a demonstration in Beta on Friday.
“Eisenour was killed by a bullet from an Israeli military gunman while he was peacefully standing up for justice,” Aji’s family said.
Her family said in a statement: “We welcome the White House’s statement of condolence, but given the circumstances of Eisenur’s killing, Israel’s investigation was insufficient.”
“We call on President Biden, Vice President Harris and Secretary Blinken to order an independent investigation into the unlawful killings of American citizens and ensure that the guilty parties are held fully accountable,” they said.
The White House said it had asked the Israeli government for more information and for an investigation. National Security Council spokesman Sean Savitt said they were “deeply disturbed” by Agee’s death.
The ISM said Eygi was taking part in weekly demonstrations against Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank in the town of Beitah, north of Ramallah.
The group said in a statement that the protests “mainly involved men and children praying” and were met with force by the Israel Defense Forces, which fired tear gas before using live ammunition.
Eygi was shot in the head and died shortly after being taken to a hospital in Nablus, the ISM said. According to the ISM, Eygi was the 18th protester killed in Beitar since 2020 and the only non-Palestinian.
The IDF said they were in the area near Beta and “retaliated with fire at the main instigator of the violence, who threw stones at the IDF and posed a threat to them”.
“The IDF is investigating reports that a foreigner was killed as a result of a shooting in the area,” the IDF said. “The details of the incident and the circumstances surrounding her being struck are under review.”
Agee is a dual national and also holds Turkish citizenship. Turkish President Recep Erdogan said in a statement that he condemned Israel’s “barbaric intervention in civilian protests against the occupation of the West Bank.”
Eygi’s profile on the social networking site LinkedIn says she is a psychology graduate with a minor in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and is dedicated to serving underserved communities.
“I am passionate about making a positive impact and constantly seek opportunities to learn, grow and contribute to meaningful projects,” she wrote.
The University of Washington in Seattle said Agee was a recent graduate, and the president of the University of Washington called the news of her death “terrible.”
“My heart goes out to Eisenur’s family, friends and loved ones,” President Ana Mari Cauce said in a statement. “Eisenour is a psychology peer mentor who helps welcome new students to the department and makes a positive impact on their lives.”
Kaus said Agee is the second member of the UW community to die as a result of violence in the area. “Once again, I join our government and the many people who are working hard to call for a ceasefire and resolve the crisis,” she said.
Agee’s family said in a statement on Friday that her killing was an “unimaginable tragedy” and that she had just turned 26. ” they said.
“She was gentle, brave, silly, helpful, and a ray of sunshine. She wore her heart on her sleeve. She felt deeply the responsibility of serving others and lived a life of taking care of those in need with her actions,” the family said. “She was a passionate human rights activist throughout her life – a staunch and committed advocate for justice.”
Agee, who graduated from university three months ago, participated in campus protests as a student before traveling to the West Bank.
“Eisenour felt compelled to travel to the West Bank to express solidarity with Palestinian civilians who continue to suffer ongoing repression and violence,” they said.
Since October 7, at least two other US citizens have been killed in the West Bank. Tawfic Hafeth Abdel Jabbar, 17, was killed by Israeli fire in January.
Israeli settlements have expanded rapidly in the past few years Israeli settler violence against Palestinians is rising. April, Human Rights Watch issued a report stating that armed settlers violently evicted Palestinian residents At least five West Bank settlements “have the active participation of the military.”
Israeli troops appear to be withdrawing from the city of Jenin and other areas of the West Bank, where the Israel Defense Forces have been conducting military operations. Deadly days of action This has wreaked havoc on communities across the city and beyond.
The Israel Defense Forces said at least 14 terrorists were killed in Jenin, including Jenin Hamas leader Wassem Hazem, who they said directed shootings and bombings in the area .
The Israel Defense Forces also detained more than 30 people as suspects, but the military did not elaborate on their suspicions.
Palestinian health officials said on Thursday that at least 39 people have died in the West Bank since Israel launched an operation to destroy “terrorist groups” in the West Bank on August 28.
Many of the victims were claimed to be members of the militant group Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, although the Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight children were among the victims.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said: “For more than a week, Israeli forces have been using lethal, war-like tactics in the northern West Bank, deepening humanitarian needs and raising concerns about the excessive use of force. . humanitarian update Published Wednesday.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that from August 27 to September 2, Israeli forces killed 30 Palestinians in the area, including seven children, “the highest weekly death toll since November 2023.” ”.
In 2022, Israel admitted to shooting and killing a soldier Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu AklehAt the time he was covering attacks in the occupied West Bank for Al Jazeera. No one in the Israeli army has been charged, and the military has not announced any disciplinary action.
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