Activist killing/ Turkish-American protester/ Israel-Turkey conflict/ West Bank shooting/ Turkish investigation/ Newslooks/ ANKARA/ Turkey/ Turkey has initiated its own investigation into the death of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who was shot by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank. Israel claims the shooting was likely accidental, but Turkey is calling for international bodies to investigate further. The activist’s body will be returned to Turkey for burial.
Turkish-American Activist Death Quick Looks:
- Turkey launched its investigation into the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, killed during a West Bank protest.
- Israel claims the activist was shot “indirectly and unintentionally” by its soldiers.
- Turkey plans to present findings to a U.N. court as part of an ongoing genocide case filed by South Africa.
- The activist’s body is set to be repatriated to Turkey for burial.
Turkey Probes Killing of Turkish-American Activist by Israeli Forces
Deep Look:
Turkey has announced its own investigation into the killing of a Turkish-American activist, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who was fatally shot by Israeli forces during a protest against settlements in the occupied West Bank. The 26-year-old, originally from Seattle, was participating in a demonstration last Friday when she was killed. While Israeli authorities claim that Eygi was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally” by soldiers, Turkey is calling for a more thorough inquiry into the incident.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed that Turkey’s chief prosecutor’s office in Ankara is leading the investigation. Tunc also urged the involvement of international organizations, including the U.N. Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, to look into the killing. Tunc emphasized that Turkey will pursue all necessary legal avenues for what he referred to as their “martyred daughter” and added that the findings from Turkey’s investigation would be presented to the U.N. court, which is currently overseeing a genocide case against Israel filed by South Africa. This legal case centers on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has escalated tensions across the region.
Eygi’s death comes at a time of heightened violence and unrest in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians since the conflict began in October. On Wednesday alone, strikes on Gaza killed dozens, including 34 people at a U.N. school and in two residential homes. Among the victims were 19 women and children, according to Palestinian authorities. The ongoing war has displaced over 90% of Gaza’s population, with more than 41,000 Palestinians reported killed, although this number does not distinguish between militants and civilians.
The conflict erupted after an October 7 attack by Hamas-led militants, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, most of whom were civilians. Additionally, the militants abducted around 250 people, with about a third of them believed to have been killed since the conflict began.
Turkey’s investigation into Eygi’s death underscores the broader concerns over Israeli military actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly regarding civilian casualties. The Turkish government has expressed its commitment to seeking justice for the activist and is working in tandem with U.N. agencies to uncover the full details surrounding the shooting.
Eygi’s body is expected to be repatriated to Turkey on Friday. Her burial is scheduled to take place in Didim, a coastal town in western Turkey, according to the wishes of her family.
