Turkey prepares to bury US activist killed by Israel in West Bank

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Didim, Turkey, for the funeral of 26-year-old Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. Killed by Israeli forces during a protest in the occupied West Bank, Eygi’s death has ignited global outrage and calls for accountability.

Eygi, an activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), was shot in the head on September 6 while peacefully demonstrating against illegal Israeli settlements near Nablus. Her tragic death has provoked widespread condemnation of Israel’s actions, with accusations that she was deliberately targeted by Israeli soldiers.

Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Didim, described the mourners as visibly shocked by the sudden loss of Eygi, stating, “You can see the disbelief in their faces that Aysenur is no more.” The emotional gathering took place under tight security, as family, friends, and supporters paid their final respects.

The activist’s coffin arrived in Didim following a martyrs’ ceremony at Istanbul airport, where a tribute was held in her honor. Eygi’s family chose to bury her in the coastal town, where she often visited and where her grandparents are also laid to rest.

Eygi’s mother, Rabia Birden, has urged Turkish officials to seek justice for her daughter. “The only thing I ask of our state is to seek justice for my daughter,” Birden said, as quoted by Turkish state news agency Anadolu.

In response, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to ensure that Eygi’s death “does not go unpunished.” The Turkish government has called for an independent investigation by the United Nations, adding pressure on the international community to hold Israel accountable. US President Joe Biden has also demanded “full accountability” from Israel.

The Israeli military, however, has claimed that Eygi was unintentionally shot while soldiers responded to what they described as a “violent riot.” But eyewitness reports challenge this narrative. One Italian activist, who was with Eygi at the time of her death, contradicted the Israeli account, saying, “We were clearly visible to the army, there was nothing happening next to us … it was a shoot to kill.”

Eygi’s family, doubting the adequacy of an Israeli investigation, has called for an independent inquiry by the United States. The United Nations has confirmed that she was participating in a peaceful protest at the time of her death, adding to mounting international pressure for a thorough investigation.

As Turkey lays Eygi to rest, her death has become a symbol of the struggle for justice and human rights, with many around the world demanding that those responsible be held accountable.