By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL –U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he “deplored” the death of Turkish-American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by Israeli military in the West Bank on Friday. Blinken said all action will be taken “as necessary” Meanwhile, Turkish President Erdogan condemned the killing as “Israel’s barbaric intervention,” commenting on X “I condemn Israel’s barbaric intervention against a demonstration against the occupation in the West Bank and I pray for God’s mercy for our citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi who lost her life in the attack.” Blnken extended his deepest condolences and said “the most important thing to do is to gather the facts,” and said that’s what the U.S. administration is doing now. Blinken added “any actions that we take are driven by the facts.” The U.S. Secretary of State reiterated that “I have no higher priority than the safety and protection of Americans around the world no matter where they are.”
Meanwhile, The Council on American-Islamic relations has demanded the U.S. government “act on its own accord and not passively defer to Israeli investigations.” A formal letter was presented to the State Department from Robert S. McCaw, director of the Government Affiairs Department of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) which read: “I write to request that the Justice Department investigate and prosecute the Israeli officials, soldiers and settlers responsible for committing violent crimes against Palestinian-Americans, including slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and peace activist Aysenur Ezgi Egyi who was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers today in the Occupied West Bank.” His letter further stated: CAIR calls on the DOJ, working in coordination with FBI and Department of State, to immediately investigate and prosecute the horrific murder of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi who was allegedly shot in the head by Israeli soldiers while volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) to protect Palestinian farmers.” McCaw added: In light of this heinous act of violence, we demand the U.S. government act on its own accord and not passively defer to Israeli investigations, which time and again have resulted in predictable exoneration.” He also added that CAIR expects the Department of Justice to act “immediately and decisively” on this. Residents in Beita where Eygi was shot, regularly hold weekly protests after Friday prayers to protest illegal Israeli settlements in that area.
