American Activist's Fatal Shooting in West Bank Sparks Debate on Military Ethics

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, an American activist from Seattle, was killed by Israeli fire during a protest in the West Bank. The Israeli military said the shooting was likely unintentional. The incident has drawn condemnation from U.S. officials and highlights increasing violence in the region since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American activist from Seattle, was fatally shot by Israeli troops during a protest in the West Bank last week, according to the Israeli military. They stated the shooting was 'indirect and unintentional,' as the troops aimed at another individual, an assertion that has stirred considerable controversy.

Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli protester who witnessed the event, said Eygi was shot about 30 minutes after clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces had subsided. Eygi was a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement and had dual Turkish citizenship. She was at a weekly demonstration against the expansion of Israeli settlements.

The incident comes amid heightened violence in the West Bank, fueled by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The region has seen an increase in Israeli raids, attacks by Palestinian militants, and crackdowns on Palestinian protests. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the killing and called for changes in Israeli operational procedures in the West Bank.

(With inputs from agencies.)