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Israeli Troops Kill Turkish-American Activist at West Bank Protest

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Israeli troops shot and killed Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American activist, during a protest against settlement expansion in the West Bank on Friday, according to Palestinian and Turkish officials. Eygi, who held both U.S. and Turkish citizenship and had recently graduated from the University of Washington, was participating in a demonstration in Beita when she was fatally injured. Turkey’s foreign ministry accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of responsibility for her death, while the White House expressed deep concern and called for an investigation.

Eygi, who was studying psychology and Middle Eastern languages and cultures, was described by her family as a passionate human rights advocate. She had been involved in various protests, including those against U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. The University of Washington’s president, Ana Mari Cauce, remembered her as a positive influence and peer mentor.

The Israeli military reported that troops fired towards a male protester they deemed a threat but acknowledged that a female foreign national was killed during the incident. The military is reviewing the circumstances of Eygi’s death. No immediate response was given by Netanyahu’s office.

In a related incident, a 13-year-old girl was also killed by Israeli gunfire in the village of Qaryut, near Beita, amid violent confrontations between settlers and Palestinians. The rise in violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank has provoked international criticism and led to U.S. sanctions on some individuals involved in the settler movement.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the killing and vowed to work against what he called Israel’s policy of occupation and genocide. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized the Biden Administration for not doing enough to seek justice for American victims and called for a thorough investigation. Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel’s occupation of the West Bank has been a contentious issue, with international condemnation of Israeli settlements which are widely considered illegal under international law.

Israeli Strikes in the West Bank Kill at Least 10; Jenin Sealed Off Amid Ongoing Conflict

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Israeli airstrikes in the West Bank have resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people, according to Palestinian officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their operations across the occupied West Bank, including a significant military presence in the city of Jenin, which has been completely sealed off. The city’s entry and exit points have been blocked, including access to hospitals, following a series of raids described by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz as a “full-fledged war” against “Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructures.”

The IDF confirmed operations in Jenin and Tulkarm, and Palestinian sources report that seven people were killed in Tubas early Wednesday, with an additional two fatalities in Jenin. The victims in Jenin have been identified as Qassam Jabarin, 25, and Asem Balout, 39.

In response to the escalating conflict, armed factions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah have announced their engagement with Israeli forces. Clashes in the West Bank have intensified since the 7 October attacks and the subsequent invasion of Gaza, leading to frequent vigilante-style attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian communities.

In a separate development, the IDF announced the elimination of five individuals in Nur Shams on Monday, describing them as terrorists. This includes Jibril Jasan Ismail, who was reportedly released in a November 2023 agreement, as well as Mohanad Qarawi, Muhammad Yussef, and Adnan Jaber.

The violence has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports at least 637 deaths in the West Bank since early October, including armed fighters, stone-throwing youths, and civilians. In contrast, Israeli reports indicate at least 30 Israeli fatalities in Jerusalem and the West Bank during the same period.

In Gaza, Israeli strikes have also claimed at least 16 lives in Khan Younis, including five women and three children. The fatalities include a brother and sister, and their relative, who died in their home. Additionally, a late-night airstrike in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of local journalist Mohamed Abdrabu and his sister.