Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American activist from Seattle, was laid to rest in her hometown of Didim following her tragic death in the West Bank. Eygi, a member of the International Solidarity Movement, was involved in a scheduled protest against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank when she was shot in the head. Eyewitnesses reported that she was standing alone under an olive tree away from the main protest when the fatal shot occurred.
The Israel Defense Forces admitted that Eygi was likely hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire that was not aimed at her but at someone else deemed the key instigator of the protest. This tragic incident has sparked calls for investigations from both Turkey and the United States, with demands for accountability and responsibility for Eygi's death. The U.S. Secretary of State has also condemned her killing as part of broader efforts to push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and the release of remaining hostages held by the militant group.
Eygi's death comes amidst ongoing violence in the region, with Israeli airstrikes in Gaza causing further destruction and casualties. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of civilians, and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Both sides have accused each other of making new and unacceptable demands, prolonging efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement and end the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians.