WA Rep. criticizes Biden administration for inaction on killing of Turkish-American activist

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) sharply criticized the Biden administration Tuesday over its lack of progress toward an independent investigation into the killing of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by Israeli forces last month in the occupied West Bank.

Jayapal, known for her vocal stance on foreign policy issues, expressed frustration with the U.S. government’s response, calling for a halt to specific U.S. military aid to Israel until accountability is ensured.

“It has been 32 days since Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed in the West Bank, and we have seen no movement toward an independent investigation by the U.S. government and no additional information on changes in the practices of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units that are using live ammunition on those who are peacefully protesting,” Jayapal said in a statement.

Eygi, a 26-year-old dual Turkish and U.S. national, was fatally shot on September 6 during a peaceful protest against illegal Israeli settlements near Nablus. The Israeli army’s preliminary investigation concluded that Eygi was “highly likely” struck indirectly by Israeli fire targeting a protester who allegedly hurled rocks. However, both video evidence and eyewitness accounts contradict this narrative, suggesting that Eygi was shot well after the confrontations subsided and protesters had moved away from Israeli forces.

Jayapal, representing Washington’s 7th congressional district, noted she had been in constant contact with Eygi’s family and had multiple briefings with the U.S. State Department regarding the case.

“I am frankly appalled with the lack of movement on this case,” she said. “I have received no information that gives me any assurance that the killing of a U.S. citizen by the IDF is being treated with the urgency it deserves.”

Jayapal also linked Eygi’s case to a broader pattern of inaction by the U.S. government, referencing the 2003 killing of Rachel Corrie, another U.S. citizen who died at the hands of Israeli forces in the West Bank. “This is not the first time Israeli forces have killed U.S. citizens,” she noted, criticizing the lack of government response to previous incidents.

The Congresswoman emphasized that Eygi’s killing is part of a disturbing trend, noting that three U.S. citizens have been killed in the West Bank this year alone. “U.S. citizens must be safe abroad, and if they are killed, the U.S. government must act,” she said.

In her statement, Jayapal urged the U.S. to consider halting certain offensive military assistance to Israel, highlighting the country’s role as the largest recipient of U.S. military aid. “If the Israeli government is unwilling or unable to follow our own domestic laws as well as international humanitarian laws, we must demand accountability,” she added.

Jayapal, along with 102 other members of Congress, had earlier called for an independent investigation into Eygi’s death. The activist’s family, insisting Eygi was targeted deliberately, continues to demand U.S. involvement in the investigation.