Antony Blinken Calls for Revamp of Israeli Military Actions in West Bank Amid Protester's Death

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has demanded an overhaul of Israeli military practices in the West Bank after the fatal shooting of American protester Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. Israel claims the shooting was unintentional, but Blinken criticized it as 'unprovoked and unjustified,' calling for changes to Israeli rules of engagement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday demanded a comprehensive review of Israeli military conduct in the occupied West Bank in light of the fatal shooting of American protester Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, which Israel asserted was accidental.

The Israeli military admitted that their troops likely fired the shot that killed Ezgi during a protest in Beita last Friday, calling it an unintentional act. President Joe Biden conveyed that the shot ricocheted off the ground, aligning with the results of an Israeli investigation shared with the U.S. Blinken criticized her death as 'unprovoked and unjustified' and urged Israel to revise its operational procedures in the West Bank.

Palestinian officials reported that Ezgi was struck in the head. Blinken emphasized that no one should be killed for protesting and called for immediate changes in Israeli rules of engagement. Her family expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's preliminary investigation and called for an independent inquiry. An Israeli spokesperson declined to comment on Blinken's statements.

(With inputs from agencies.)