Fri Sep 13 07:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Turkish-American Activist Shot by Israeli Troops Buried in Türkiye, Ankara Seeks Justice
The body of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish-American activist killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, arrived in Türkiye on Friday, sparking calls for international justice. Eygi, who held both Turkish and American citizenship, was shot and killed during demonstrations against Israeli settlements last week.
Eygi’s family, along with Turkish officials, have expressed outrage over her death, alleging the shooting was deliberate. A witness, Israeli protester Jonathan Pollak, stated Eygi posed no threat to Israeli forces and that the shooting occurred during a period of calm following clashes between protesters and Israeli troops.
The Israeli military, in a preliminary report, claimed Eygi was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally” by its soldiers. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism, with Eygi’s family and the Palestinian Ministry of Justice asserting that she was intentionally targeted.
Turkish authorities have launched their own investigation and are seeking international arrest warrants for those responsible for Eygi’s death. The investigation is being led by the Ankara chief prosecutor’s office and findings will be presented to a UN court overseeing a genocide case against Israel filed by South Africa.
Meanwhile, Eygi’s father, Mehmet Suat Eygi, has called for the United States to open its own investigation into the “arbitrary murder” of his daughter, emphasizing her American citizenship and contributions to human rights activism.
Eygi, a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in psychology, was known for her dedication to environmental and human rights causes. Her family described her as a free-spirited individual who dedicated her life to making a difference in the world.
The White House has acknowledged concerns surrounding the circumstances of Eygi’s death, stating that the killing “never should have happened,” but has not yet commented on the adequacy of the initial Israeli investigation.
First Piper 