TheUnitedNationsonFridaycalledfora“fullinvestigation”intothecircumstancesleadingtothedeathofanAmericanwomanintheoccupiedWestBank,sayingciviliansshouldbeprotectedatalltimes.
“Peopleshouldbeheldaccountable,”StéphaneDujarric,spokesmanfortheU.N.secretarygeneral,saidwhenhewasalertedtothecasebyareporteratadailynewsbriefing.TwowitnessessaidAysenurEygi,26,wasshotintheheadFridaybyIsraeliforceswhohadopenedfire.ShewasavolunteerwiththeInternationalSolidarityMovement,apro-Palestinianactivistgroup,andwasattendingaprotestatJewishsettlementexpansioninthetownofBeita,hercolleaguessaid.
TheTurkishForeignMinistrysaidinastatementthatshewasacitizen.
Inastatement,Eygi’sfamilysaidtheywerein“shockandgrief”followingnewsofherdeath.
“Liketheolivetreeshelaybeneathwhereshetookherlastbreaths,Aysenurwasstrong,beautiful,andnourishing.Herpresenceinourliveswastakenneedlessly,unlawfully,andviolentlybytheIsraelimilitary,”thefamilysaid.
EygihadrecentlygraduatedfromtheUniversityofWashington,whereshewasanactivecampusmemberwho“feltcompelledtotraveltotheWestBanktostandinsolidaritywithPalestiniancivilians,”herfamilysaid.“Shefeltadeepresponsibilitytoserveothersandlivedalifeofcaringforthoseinneedwithaction.Shewasafiercelypassionatehumanrightsactivistherwholelife—asteadfastandstaunchadvocateofjustice.”
TheWhiteHousesaidFridaythatU.S.officialswere“deeplydisturbed”byEygi’sdeathandhadcontactedTelAviv“toaskformoreinformationandrequestaninvestigationintotheincident.”
Eygi’sfamilysaidthattheyappreciatedU.S.officials’condolencesbutcalledonthemtoorderanindependentinvestigation,statingthatan“Israeliinvestigationisnotadequate.”
HishamDweikat,amemberofthePalestinianNationalCouncillegislativebodywhowasattheprotestwhenEygiwasshot,saidarepresentativeofthePalestinianattorneygeneraltookaffidavitsfromBeitaresidentsandinternationalactivistswhowerepresentFriday.HeaddedthatfiveIsraelimilitaryvehicleshadalsoarrivedatthesiteoftheshootingandtookphotosandmeasurements.
