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A U.S. citizen participating in a protest against settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank succumbed to her injuries on Friday after being shot in the head by Israeli troops, as reported by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
According to Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, the victim was identified as Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a dual citizen of Turkey and the United States. Details regarding the length of her stay in the West Bank remain unclear.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, “We have learned with deep regret that our citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi has been killed by the Israeli occupation forces.”
The U.S. State Department confirmed the tragedy, with spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasizing ongoing efforts to gather further details surrounding her death. He described the incident as “tragic” and affirmed, “We have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens.”
The Israeli military indicated it is investigating the matter.
Fouad Nafaa, director of the Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, relayed to Reuters that Eygi arrived critically injured with a severe head wound. Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
WAFA noted that the shooting occurred during a routine protest in Beita, a town near Nablus that has recently faced escalating violence from Israeli settlers.
The increasing frequency of violent incidents involving settlers targeting Palestinian villages has drawn condemnation from Israel’s Western allies, including the United States, which has reportedly instituted sanctions against several individuals in response to these acts.
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This incident follows a recent attack on the village of Jit, where about 100 settlers engaged in violent actions, prompting universal outrage and a commitment from the Israeli government to take quick action against individuals found guilty of such violence.
Accusations from Palestinians and human rights organizations persist, contending that Israeli forces often stand by during attacks or, at times, participate directly.
Ongoing Violence in Jenin
The fatal shooting coincided with the conclusion of a lengthy Israeli military operation in the Palestinian city of Jenin, which had been underway for nine days. During this period, thousands of residents were displaced from their homes due to intense gun battles involving Israeli troops and Palestinian militants affiliated with Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah.
As the military pulled out, crews began to clear extensive debris left behind from their extensive operations, which saw hundreds of security personnel supported by helicopters and drones combing through the city, the refugee camp, and surrounding areas.
One Jenin resident, Samaher Abu Nassa, described the devastation, stating, “When they entered, they used bulldozers and began destroying everything. They left nothing.”
The Palestinian foreign ministry criticized the military’s tactics, likening them to those applied in the Gaza Strip.
Jenin is recognized as a stronghold for various Palestinian armed factions, and the Israeli military indicated that their operation, which also included actions in Tulkarm, sought to dismantle militant capabilities backed by Iranian support, aimed at attacking Israeli civilians.
During this operation, Israeli forces reported the deaths of 14 militants, including a local Hamas commander. Additionally, they arrested 30 suspects and seized weapons, dismantling facilities that included an underground storage depot for arms and an explosives workshop.
Overall, 21 individuals were reported killed in Jenin during the operation, with many identified as affiliated with armed groups. Among the deceased was a 16-year-old girl, who was reportedly killed by a sniper while looking out her window.
While the Israeli military has shifted most of its emphasis to Gaza over the past year, violence has significantly escalated in the West Bank, characterized by clashes between military forces and Palestinian militants, as well as ongoing settler raids on Palestinian communities and retaliatory attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.
Since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, more than 680 Palestinians have lost their lives in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to health ministry reports. During this time, dozens of Israeli civilians have also been killed as a result of Palestinian attacks and missile strikes from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
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