US demands answers in Israeli killing of US protester
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was likely killed by IDF soldiers while protesting in the West Bank
What happened
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden demanded a thorough investigation and "full accountability" from Israel for Friday's "totally unacceptable" killing of a U.S.-Turkish citizen who was "peacefully" protesting the "expansion of settlements" in the West Bank. Israel said Tuesday its preliminary investigation found that Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, had "very likely" been killed by one of its soldiers.
Who said what
Israel said the gunfire that "indirectly and unintentionally" killed Eygi "during a violent riot" in Beita was aimed at the "key instigator." Beita is a "village near Nablus where Palestinians have been repeatedly attacked by far-right Jewish settlers," Reuters said. Eygi had been participating in her first West Bank protest, alongside other foreign volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement, when she was killed.
Despite Israel's assertion, The Washington Post said, interviews with 13 eyewitnesses and a review of dozens of videos from the incident showed that "Eygi was shot more than a half-hour after the height of confrontations in Beita" and "more than 200 yards away from Israeli forces," far outside of stone-throwing range.
What next?
Biden said he was "outraged and deeply saddened" by Eygi's death, and "Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again." Eygi's relatives said Biden should "speak with the family directly" and "order an independent, transparent investigation" into Israel's "deliberate targeting and killing of a U.S. citizen." Eygi's body was being sent to Turkey for burial.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
Netanyahu takes the stand in corruption trial
Speed Read He is Israel's first sitting leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What Assad's fall means beyond Syria
The Explainer Russia and Iran scramble to forge new ties with Syrian rebels as Israel seeks to exploit opportunities and Turkey emerges as 'main winner'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
The potential effects of Israel's ceasefire with Hezbollah
THE EXPLAINER With the possibility of a region-wide war fading, the Palestinian militant group Hamas faces increased isolation and limited options
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'At what point does hyper-personalization become incredibly impersonal and detached?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire
Speed Read Both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'The arrest orders undermine the ICC's credibility'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published