A funeral was held in the West Bank for Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old U.S.-Turkish activist reportedly shot and killed by Israeli troops during a protest against settlements. Eygi’s body is expected to be repatriated to Turkey for burial. An Israeli activist who witnessed the incident claims Eygi posed no threat when shot. The Israeli military is investigating. The incident occurred amid escalating violence in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
Quick Read
- Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old U.S.-Turkish dual national, was killed by Israeli troops during a protest in the West Bank.
- Eygi was reportedly shot in the head by Israeli forces while posing no threat, according to a witness.
- A funeral procession was held by the Palestinian Authority, attended by mourners and officials.
- Turkey is working on repatriating Eygi’s body for burial in her hometown of Didim.
- The Israeli military is investigating the incident, which occurred during a period of calm following clashes.
- The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
Mourners gather for funeral of US-Turkish activist shot by Israeli forces
NEWSLOOKS – NABLUS, West Bank (AP) —
Funeral procession was held Monday by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank for Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old U.S.-Turkish dual national activist, who a witness claims was fatally shot by Israeli troops during an anti-settlement protest.
Several mourners, including top PA officials, joined the procession in Nablus. Eygi’s body was draped in a Palestinian flag with a black-and-white checkered scarf over her face. Her remains are expected to be repatriated to her family in Turkey for burial in Didim, a coastal town. According to Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli, efforts are underway to fly her body directly to Turkey due to land crossing restrictions between Palestinian territories and Jordan.
Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli activist who attended Friday’s protest, said Eygi was shot while posing no threat. He claimed that after the protest settled down, two Israeli soldiers took aim and fired, striking Eygi in the head.
The Israeli military stated it is investigating reports of an incident involving the death of a foreign national but said soldiers were responding to violent activity in the area. The West Bank has seen heightened violence since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated in October, with increasing clashes between Israeli forces, Palestinian militants, and Israeli settlers.
