The family of Aysenur Eygi, a Turkish-American activist killed by Israeli forces in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is set to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday to demand an independent, US-led investigation into her death.
Key Quotes
Ozden Bennett, Eygi’s sister, stated:
“For the last three months, Blinken and State Department officials have repeatedly told us to wait for Israel, the government whose army perpetrated the crime against Aysenur, to investigate itself. This cannot stand.”
Bennett and Eygi’s widower, Hamid Ali, will join the meeting with Blinken and State Department officials.
Why It Matters
Despite condemning Eygi’s killing and expressing concern over rising violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, Washington has not announced significant policy changes toward Israel. Blinken previously described Eygi’s killing as “unprovoked.”
Context
Israel acknowledges that its troops shot Eygi during a protest against settlement expansion but claims it was an accidental outcome of a demonstration that escalated. Since the 1967 war, Israel has occupied the West Bank, an area Palestinians seek for a future state. Most countries and the International Court of Justice consider these settlements illegal, though Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties.
The killing occurred amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that resulted in 1,200 deaths and hostages being taken. Israel’s military response in Gaza has led to tens of thousands of casualties and sparked genocide allegations, which Israel denies.
