The United Nations has called for a “comprehensive investigation” into the tragic death of Ayşenur Ezgi Aygi, a 26-year-old American-Turkish dual citizen, who was fatally shot during a protest in the occupied West Bank. The incident, which took place near the town of Beita on Friday, has sparked international outrage and re-ignited demands for accountability in the volatile region.
Fatal protest
Aygi was taking part in a weekly protest against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the town of Beita, near Nablus. The protests, which are a regular occurrence in the region, are part of ongoing efforts by Palestinian and international activists to protest Israeli settlement activities, which many consider a violation of international law. During the protest, Israeli forces opened fire, resulting in Aygi’s death.
Eyewitness statements and local media reports indicate that Aygi was shot by Israeli soldiers. Jonathan Pollack, a Jewish-Israeli activist at the scene, told the BBC World Service’s Newshour program that he saw soldiers aim their weapons at the rooftop. He heard two separate gunshots, separated by a second or two. “I heard someone calling my name, saying in English, ‘Help us. We need help,'” Pollack recalled. “I ran towards them and saw Ms Egy lying on the ground under the olive tree, bleeding from her head.”
Pollack described the moments that followed as frantic and desperate. “I put my hands behind her back to stop the bleeding,” he said. “I looked up and saw there was a clear line of sight between the soldiers and where we were. I felt her pulse, and it was very, very weak.” Despite efforts to save her, Egy was taken to a hospital in Nablus, where she was later pronounced dead.
Calls for accountability and international responses
The United Nations was swift in its response. UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressed the need for a thorough investigation. “We want to see a full investigation of the circumstances and people held accountable,” Dujarric said. He stressed the importance of protecting civilians in conflict zones and said they “must be protected at all times.” The United States also expressed its concern. White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savet said Washington was “deeply distressed by the tragic death of an American citizen.” The US government has reportedly contacted Israeli authorities for more information and requested a full investigation into the incident. Turkey, where Agy was born in the city of Antalya, strongly condemned the shooting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the Israeli action “barbaric,” while the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Agy was “killed by Israeli occupation troops in the city of Nablus.” Turkey has also called for accountability and a transparent investigation to determine the cause of Egi’s death. Conflicting statements
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) offered a different version of events. In an official statement, the IDF claimed that its forces were responding to “violent activity” and that they had fired at a “main instigator” who was throwing stones and posing a threat to soldiers. “The IDF is investigating reports that a foreign national was killed as a result of gunfire in the area,” the statement said. Details