Jerusalem: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday called for an overhaul of Israeli military conduct in the occupied West Bank, condemning the fatal shooting of an American protester. The victim, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, who held both U.S. and Turkish citizenship, was killed during a protest against settlement expansion in Beita, a village near Nablus. Israel described the incident as accidental.
According to the Israeli military, its initial inquiry indicated that its troops likely fired the shot that killed Eygi, though the death was deemed unintentional. “We deeply regret this loss of life,” the military said on Tuesday. President Joe Biden, referencing the Israeli investigation, explained that the bullet had “ricocheted off the ground,” adding that the findings were presented to the U.S.
Palestinian officials, however, reported that Eygi was shot in the head, sparking outrage. Her family rejected Israel’s preliminary investigation as “wholly inadequate” and demanded an independent U.S. probe. Hamid Ali, Eygi’s partner, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Her death was no accident, and her killers must be held accountable.”
Ali also criticized President Biden for not reaching out to Eygi’s family. “For four days, we have waited for President Biden to pick up the phone and do the right thing,” Ali said.
In their most forceful critique of Israeli security forces to date, Blinken and Austin condemned Eygi’s killing as “unprovoked and unjustified.” Both officials stressed that the U.S. would demand changes to Israeli military operations in the West Bank. Blinken emphasized, “No one should be shot and killed for attending a protest. No one should have to put their life at risk for freely expressing their views.” He also pointed out that this was the second American citizen killed by Israeli forces this year, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
The Israeli government did not respond to Blinken’s remarks. However, Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, urging him to reconsider the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) rules of engagement in the West Bank. According to the Pentagon, Austin expressed “grave concern” over the killing of Eygi and called for a thorough review of the incident.
The Israeli military announced that the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division was investigating the shooting, a move that White House national security spokesperson John Kirby described as uncommon. “We will closely monitor the progress of the criminal investigation and its findings,” Kirby said, adding that accountability would be critical.
In its statement, the Israeli military explained that the gunfire was not intended for Eygi but rather aimed at “the key instigator of the riot.” The incident occurred during a protest where dozens of Palestinians reportedly burned tires and threw rocks at Israeli forces.
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The Israeli government has requested an autopsy from Palestinian authorities to further investigate the circumstances of Eygi’s death. Eygi’s family, however, dismissed the military’s explanation, stating, “We are deeply offended by the suggestion that her killing by a trained sniper was in any way unintentional.”
The killing of Eygi has added to growing frustration among Western allies of Israel, including the United States, over escalating settler violence in the West Bank. The U.S. has already imposed sanctions on certain individuals linked to the hardline settler movement. Tensions remain high, particularly in the context of Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas militants in Gaza.
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Palestinians in Beita have held weekly protests against the expansion of the nearby Evyatar outpost since 2020. Israel’s ultra-nationalist ruling coalition has moved to legalize unauthorized outposts like Evyatar, a move Washington warns undermines stability in the West Bank and weakens efforts toward a two-state solution.
Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank, a region Palestinians claim as the heart of a future independent state. Israel has continued to expand settlements in the area, which the majority of the international community considers illegal, though Israel disputes this based on historical and biblical ties.
