US Citizen Fatally Shot at West Bank Settlement Protest, Witnesses Claim

An American woman was killed by Israeli soldiers during a protest against settlements in the West Bank, according to two witnesses. The US government confirmed the death of 26-year-old Aysenur Ezgi Eygi but did not specify if she was shot by Israeli troops. The White House expressed deep concern and urged Israel to investigate.

Eygi, who also held Turkish citizenship, was participating in a weekly demonstration against settlement expansion. These protests have previously turned violent. Last month, American citizen Amado Sison was shot in the leg by Israeli forces while trying to escape tear gas and live fire.

Eyewitness Accounts

Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli protester, stated that the shooting occurred after a communal prayer on a hillside near Beita. Soldiers surrounded the area, leading to clashes with Palestinians throwing stones and troops firing tear gas and live ammunition. Pollak said he saw two soldiers on a nearby rooftop aiming at the group before shots were fired.

Mariam Dag, another activist from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), corroborated Pollak's account. She heard two live bullets being fired, one of which hit Eygi in the head. Dag ran towards Eygi and saw blood coming from her head. "The shots were coming from the direction of the army," she said.

Medical Confirmation

Two doctors confirmed that Eygi was shot in the head. Dr. Ward Basalat provided first aid at the scene, and Dr. Fouad Naffa, director of Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, confirmed her injuries upon arrival at the hospital.

Eygi had just arrived in the West Bank on Tuesday and was eager to participate in the demonstration. "This was our first day on the ground together," Dag said. "She was very happy and excited this morning to start."

Official Responses

The Israeli military is investigating reports that troops killed a foreign national while targeting an "instigator of violent activity." The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the killing and vowed to seek justice for Eygi.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US is "intensely focused" on determining what happened and will take necessary actions based on their findings.

Context of Violence

Since March 2020, 17 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces during weekly Beita protests, according to ISM. The organisation often places its activists between Israeli forces and Palestinians to prevent military operations.

This incident is among several where apparent Israeli fire has killed Americans in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began. Investigations into similar cases involving Palestinian-American teens Mohammad Khdour and Tawfic Abdel Jabbar have not been concluded.

International Reactions

The international community largely views Israeli settlements as illegal under international law. The settlement of Evyatar, initially unrecognised under Israeli law, was legalised by Israel's cabinet in July following international recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Palestinian officials claim that Israel has intensified its repression of protests in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began. Unlike within Israel, where live ammunition is rarely used against protests, West Bank demonstrations frequently face live fire.

Hussein Al-Sheikh from the Palestinian Liberation Organization described Eygi's killing as "another crime added to the series of crimes committed daily by occupation forces."

Since October 7, over 690 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials. Attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis in the territory have also increased during this period.