103 US lawmakers call for independent investigation into killing of Turkish-American activist

A group of 103 U.S. lawmakers is urging the Biden administration to conduct an independent investigation into the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish American activist, who was killed by Israeli forces earlier this month during a protest in the occupied West Bank.

In a letter sent Tuesday to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Attorney General Merrick Garland, the lawmakers called for a thorough and transparent inquiry into Eygi’s killing. The group expressed concerns about the circumstances surrounding her death, asking whether it could be considered a homicide.

“Given the evidence, we believe the United States must independently investigate whether this was a homicide,” the letter reads. “To walk away without asking further questions gives Israeli forces unacceptable license to act with impunity. There must be accountability for Ms. Eygi’s death.”

The letter, signed by high-profile members of Congress, including Representatives Adam Smith, Pramila Jayapal, Rashida Tlaib, Barbara Lee, Jamaal Bowman, Ro Khanna, and Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, demanded a report detailing the findings of the investigation to be provided to Eygi’s family.

Eygi, 26, who held dual Turkish-U.S. nationality, was killed on September 6 near Nablus, in the West Bank, during a peaceful protest against Israeli settlements. She had recently graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in psychology and Middle Eastern languages and cultures and had traveled to the West Bank as a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement, an organization dedicated to supporting Palestinian farmers.

The Israeli army’s initial investigation stated that Eygi was “highly likely” hit “indirectly and unintentionally” by Israeli fire targeting a protest instigator. However, both video evidence and eyewitness testimonies have challenged this account. A report by The Washington Post revealed that Eygi was shot over 30 minutes after the peak of confrontations and well after the protesters had moved away from Israeli forces.

Eygi’s family contends that she was killed in a targeted attack, and they, alongside the Turkish government, are calling for a U.S.-led independent investigation. They hope such an inquiry would hold those responsible for her death accountable.

The call for an investigation underscores the growing demands for more scrutiny over the actions of Israeli forces in the occupied territories. “This investigation should include all evidence found and rationale for how findings were determined in a written report to the family,” the letter from lawmakers stated.

Eygi, born in Antalya, Türkiye, had moved to the U.S. with her family as an infant and was passionate about human rights advocacy, particularly in the Middle East. Her death has sparked international attention, with many questioning the response of both the Israeli and U.S. governments.