Tragedy in the West Bank: U.S. Woman Fatally Shot
In a devastating incident on Friday, an American woman was tragically killed in the occupied West Bank, as confirmed by the U.S. State Department. Witnesses claim that Israeli forces opened fire, fatally shooting the woman in the head.
The victim, Aysenur Eygi, was a 26-year-old volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian activist group. Eygi was reportedly attending a protest in the town of Beita, opposing the expansion of Jewish settlements, when the fatal shot occurred. Eygi’s passport, which surfaced online, indicated she was born in Turkey, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry later confirmed her Turkish citizenship.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces stated that they are investigating reports of a foreign national being killed by gunfire in the area. The IDF explained that their forces had responded with gunfire toward an individual who they say was a primary instigator, throwing rocks and posing a threat to the soldiers. However, the exact details of the incident remain under review.
The U.S. State Department expressed its deepest condolences to Eygi’s family, with spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasizing the importance of gathering further information about the circumstances surrounding her death. Miller reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to the safety of its citizens, calling the situation “tragic.”
Jonathan Pollak, a fellow ISM volunteer, painted a different picture of the events. According to him, the shooting occurred about half an hour after the protesters had already dispersed. At the time, there were no active clashes, and the volunteers were standing roughly 200 yards away from the Israeli military presence. Pollak claims, “There was no justification for taking that shot.”
Eygi, along with other ISM volunteers, had retreated to a safe distance after tear gas and live ammunition were used by the soldiers, he said. They had positioned themselves down a hill in an olive grove, away from the clashes between soldiers and local youths. Pollak and another volunteer, Mariam, observed as Israeli soldiers took up position on a nearby rooftop.
Pollak admitted that he didn’t see Eygi get shot directly but witnessed the soldiers aiming in their direction. He recalled seeing a flare and hearing two gunshots—one hitting a metal object, the other striking Eygi.
Mariam confirmed that their group was visible to the soldiers and was far from any confrontation. She emphasized that they were simply standing there, observing, while those who had clashed with the soldiers were much further away.
This tragic event has left many searching for answers as investigations continue.