Criminal complaint filed against Israeli officials over Turkish activist Eygi’s murder

Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS) has filed a criminal complaint against Israeli officials with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office after Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during a peaceful demonstration in Beita, West Bank.

The complaint accuses Israeli soldiers of “premeditated murder,” citing witness statements and the circumstances of the incident.

Eygi, alongside activists from various countries, joined the protest on Sept. 6 to condemn Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. According to the criminal complaint, the demonstration remained non-violent until Israeli soldiers, positioned on a nearby hill, began using tear gas and then live ammunition on the protesters.

One of the bullets struck Eygi in the head. She was rushed to a local hospital in Nablus but succumbed to her injuries shortly after.

Australian activist describes moment of Aysenur Eygi’s shooting

Australian activist Helen Maria O’Sullivan, who was with Turkish activist Eygi during the protest, shared a detailed account of the tragic event. “This was not an accident. It wasn’t self-defense. It was a cold-blooded and planned execution targeting international witnesses,” O’Sullivan stated.

O’Sullivan, a social services field instructor from Australia, had traveled to Jerusalem to support Palestinians under threat from Israeli forces and settlers. She described how the protest began peacefully with people gathering for prayer and how tension escalated when soldiers took positions on the hill overlooking the area.

“We arrived just before prayer time. Elderly men and children were sitting in the garden, drinking coffee and eating dates. Everything seemed calm but tense. The soldiers’ presence on the hill, roughly 200-250 meters away, suggested that something more serious might happen,” O’Sullivan explained.

She recounted how young boys threw stones at the soldiers, although the stones couldn’t reach them. “Without any warning or instructions to leave, the soldiers fired tear gas into the crowd, followed by live bullets. We heard the sound of live ammunition. It was deafening. People started shouting ‘real bullets!’ We ran down the hill and took cover in an olive grove,” O’Sullivan recalled.

Turkish activist Eygi’s final moments: ‘I watched in horror as she fell’

O’Sullivan and Eygi tried to find safety together, holding on to each other as chaos unfolded. Describing the moment of the shooting, she said, “Aysenur was to my left, just within arm’s reach. I saw her fall to the ground. My first thought was that she had stumbled. But when I turned her over, I saw blood on her temple and nose. Her eyes were open, but she wasn’t responding. It was horrifying.”

Another volunteer claimed to have seen a sniper on a rooftop, reinforcing the suspicion of a deliberate attack. “This wasn’t an isolated incident. The aim was to send a message to the international community by targeting foreign activists,” O’Sullivan added.

Lawyers aim to hold Israeli officials accountable with criminal complaint

The Lawyers for the Earth Association aims to hold those responsible accountable through legal proceedings. Enes Kafadar, the association’s president, emphasized their commitment to using every legal tool available to ensure that Israeli actions do not go unpunished. He expressed hope that this case would set a precedent and deter future violations.

The criminal complaint identifies several individuals as suspects, accusing them of direct involvement or incitement. Kafadar stated that if any of these individuals come to Türkiye, they will face judicial proceedings. “Our goal is to show that even a few of these actions can be punished and that there will be consequences for future crimes,” he asserted.