Family mourns American activist killed by Israeli gunfire in Turkey

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish American activist, was fatally shot in the head on September 6 during a protest against an Israeli settler outpost in the West Bank village of Beita. Eygi was participating in a demonstration alongside Palestinian and international activists when she was struck, despite being positioned over 200 yards away from the Israeli soldiers. Eygi's death has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, particularly from her family and friends who gathered to mourn her loss in Turkey. Her father, Mehmet Suat Eygi, expressed his disappointment with the U.S. government's response to his daughter's killing, stating that he felt Washington had not exerted enough pressure on Israel. He highlighted the contrast between the U.S. government's typical response to threats against its citizens abroad and its perceived leniency towards Israel. Eygi's family and supporters are demanding justice and accountability for her death, which they believe should not be overlooked. The Israeli military has claimed that it is “highly likely” that Eygi was hit “indirectly and unintentionally,” and an investigation is ongoing. However, witnesses at the protest argue that the situation had calmed down before she was shot, raising questions about the military's actions and the circumstances surrounding her death. Eygi's tragic death comes amid rising international criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza, where over 41,000 people have reportedly been killed, according to the Gazan health ministry. This incident has further fueled discussions about the safety of activists and the need for accountability in conflict zones.