SEATTLE – A woman who recently graduated from the University of Washington (UW) was reportedly killed by Israeli Defense Forces during an anti-colonialism protest in the West Bank on Friday, spurring responses from state officials.
Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, an American citizen who volunteered with the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine after graduating from UW, was purportedly killed by the IDF during a peaceful protest in Beita, Palestine.
“[A] round was fired at international human rights activists who were observing the demonstration, striking a human rights activist in the head. Eygi died shortly after being transported to a local hospital,” an International Solidarity Movement press release said.
Eygi was protesting the construction of Israeli outposts on Palestinian land, which has drawn condemnation from the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Her family says that she studied Psychology and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at UW, where she was an active part of in Gaza.
“Ayşenur was a loving daughter, sister, partner, and aunt…She was a fiercely passionate human rights activist her whole life — a steadfast and staunch advocate of justice,” the family said in a media statement.
The International Criminal Court in May for war crimes and crimes against humanity due to the brutal death toll in Gaza, but the move was met with pushback from the Biden Administration and is unlikely to lead to an arrest. As of Sept. 8, the death toll stood at 40,000 Palestinians dead according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D), who has been critical of the White House’s unwavering support of Netanyahu’s campaign, criticized Israeli military leadership via social media on Friday.
“I am very troubled by the reports that she was killed by IDF soldiers. The Netanyahu government has done nothing to stop…settler violence in the West Bank…The killing of an American citizen is a terrible proof point in this senseless war,” Jayapal said.
Senator Patty Murray (D) offered a statement which reflected Jayapal’s criticism of settler violence in the West Bank and said that the Israeli government owed the public transparent information about Eygi’s death.
“I will be in close touch with the Biden administration to press the Israeli government for full transparency and accountability…Israel must take swift action to put an end to the illegal settler-driven violence that has escalated to a dangerous level in the West Bank,” Murray said.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D) offered a statement of condolence to Eygi’s family, but stopped short of criticizing Netanyahu or the Biden Administration.
“The death of Aysenur Eygi is a tragedy. My office has been in contact with the State Department and our U.S. Embassy in Israel regarding her death. I will do whatever I can to help her family at this difficult time,” Cantwell said.
Settlements in the West Bank have caused political tension and violence since 1967 when the Israeli military seized that area in addition to east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip during the Six Day War.
Since then, additional settlements by Israelis that have often been approved by government officials have caused anger for Palestinians who argue that the outposts are a violation of their sovereignty and human rights.
Advocates point to the United Nations, which has consistently condemned the destruction of Palestinian structures and building of Israeli outposts in the West Bank since 1982.
A march to honor the slain UW graduate was hosted by the university’s Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return Saturday. It included Eygi’s friends and classmates, as well as incoming UW students preparing to start class on Sept. 25.
