Washington: The US is intensifying its efforts to obtain “full accountability” from Israel regarding the killing of Turkish American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the occupied West Bank last September, a State Department spokesperson informed Anadolu on Thursday. The spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized the US’s call for Israel to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation into Eygi’s death.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israel’s initial inquiry suggested that Eygi’s death was the result of an unfortunate error for which the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are responsible. However, the US government continues to seek the complete findings of Israel’s military investigation and is pushing for increased access to the details.
The State Department spokesperson reiterated, “We will continue to press the Government of Israel for answers and for continued access to the findings of the investigation so we can have confidence in the results. There must be full accountability to prevent this from happening again.”
This development follows inquiries from Anadolu about a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio by eight members of Congress, demanding clarity on Eygi’s killing. The letter, dated March 14 and released to the public on Wednesday, was signed by senators Peter Welch, Patty Murray, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, and Chris Van Hollen, alongside representatives Pramila Jayapal, Sara Jacobs, and Joaquin Castro. The legislators urged the State Department to advocate for answers from Israel and called for a US-led inquiry into the incident.
The congressional letter drew parallels between Eygi’s death and the 2022 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, raising concerns about the accountability of the Israeli military. The lawmakers pressed the Biden administration for definitive responses regarding these incidents.
In response to a query about whether Secretary Rubio had received the letter and his intended course of action, the spokesperson refrained from commenting.
The spokesperson further remarked, “Aysenur Eygi’s killing in the West Bank last September is a tragedy.” Eygi, 26, who held dual US and Turkish citizenship, was killed by Israeli forces on September 6 during a protest against illegal Israeli settlements near Nablus.
The Biden administration had earlier demanded a “swift, thorough, and transparent investigation” into her death, but accountability remains elusive. Israel’s preliminary findings concluded that Eygi was “highly likely” struck “indirectly and unintentionally” by Israeli fire aimed at a “main instigator of violent activity who hurled rocks” during the protest. However, video evidence and witness testimonies challenge these claims, with many asserting that Eygi was directly targeted by an Israeli sniper.