The Israeli military has stated that it is highly likely its forces were responsible for the death of an American-Turkish activist during a protest in the occupied West Bank last week but maintains that the shooting was unintentional. The military expressed “deep regret” over the incident, which occurred as 26-year-old Aysenur Ezgi Eygi participated in a protest against illegal settlement expansion near the village of Beita, close to Nablus.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the killing, calling it “unprovoked and unjustified,” and stressed that it highlighted the need for significant changes in the Israeli military’s rules of engagement.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) conducted an investigation into the incident, concluding that Eygi was likely struck by a shot aimed at a different target.
“The inquiry found that it is highly likely that she was hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire which was not aimed at her, but aimed at the key instigator of the riot,” the military said.
“The incident took place during a violent riot in which dozens of Palestinian suspects burned tyres and hurled rocks towards security forces at the Beita Junction. The IDF expresses its deepest regret over the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi,” it added.
They described the protest as a “violent riot” in which protesters burned tyres and threw rocks at security forces.
Despite their findings, the IDF expressed deep regret over Eygi’s death and has requested to perform an autopsy in coordination with Palestinian authorities.
Initially, the Israeli military said it was investigating reports that a foreign national had been killed by gunfire in the area and that they were reviewing the circumstances surrounding her death. US officials have called for a full investigation and are withholding judgement until the findings are fully presented.
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led group, accused Israel of deliberately targeting Eygi, dismissing the military’s claims that the protest was not peaceful.
The incident comes amid growing tensions in the region, and the Israeli military has faced continued criticism for the lack of accountability in cases where Palestinians or international activists are harmed.