Ode to activists, journos who lost lives for Palestine – How many more?

On Sept. 6, Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who was valiantly fighting against the Israeli army’s atrocities, fell prey to Israeli atrocities.

Eygi was shot dead during a demonstration against Jewish settlement expansion in the town of Beita near Nablus in the occupied West Bank in broad daylight. Her life was cut short by the violence she sought to challenge.

She wasn’t the first to be betrayed by international law – a system that has consistently failed journalists, activists and volunteers putting their lives on the line to challenge Israeli apartheid.

Some have drawn chilling parallels between the injustice suffered by Eygi and that of American activist Rachel Corrie in 2003. Corrie was crushed beneath a bulldozer after courageously standing her ground while Israeli forces razed a Palestinian home. Nothing substantial was done back then and nothing major is expected to change now.

Eygi, who just turned 26 and graduated from the University of Washington, was shot right in her head, confirmed by Israeli authorities. Her death may have ignited deepest anguish, but she wasn’t the first nor the only one.

Here’s a list of the most prominent courageous activists and journalists who have laid down their lives in the relentless quest for justice and have garnered massive global attention. But the real question is whether justice was served back then or if it ever will be served.

Iain Hook, UK – 2002

The first on the list is Iain Hook. Hailing from the U.K., Hook was shot and killed by Israeli forces in 2002 in Jenin refugee camp while working on a reconstruction project. Israeli officials claimed they thought Hook was an armed Palestinian militant. In reality, he was holding his cell phone.

The sniper shot Hook in the back as he was reportedly trying to move to safety within the U.N. compound. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

At the time, Israeli forces claimed they were investigating the incident, but the probe has yet to yield any results to this day. He was working specifically with the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) at the time of his death.

Rachel Corrie, US – 2003

Another incident that shook the world was that of Rachel Corrie who was brutally crushed under a bulldozer in 2003 while standing against an armored Israeli bulldozer to prevent the destruction of a Palestinian home.

Eyewitnesses from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) claimed the driver could see her, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dismissed the incident as an accident, asserting the driver did not see her, effectively sweeping the tragedy under the rug.

Corrie penned down moving, emotional letters to her family from Gaza, expressing her deep empathy for the Palestinian people and the horrors she witnessed. These letters brought to light her inner turmoil and the inhumane acts she had witnessed. She became a symbol for the Palestinian cause and international activism while her family continued to seek justice for their daughter.

James Miller, UK – 2003

Next on the list is a credited documentary filmmaker from the U.K., James Miller. Miller was shot in the head while he was in the field wearing his press jacket and was present inside a designated area marked with press credentials and a white flag. At the time, he was working on a documentary about life in Gaza.

He was known for his commitment to documenting conflict zones and was working on a film about Palestinian children in Rafah. He was shot in the head by an IDF soldier while trying to leave the area. He died from his injuries the following day, on May 3, 2003.

Israel initially claimed that Miller’s death was a result of crossfire but later admitted that the shooting might have been a mistake but maintained that it was an accident. No substantial consequences although the Israeli military investigation concluded that the shooting was a result of negligence.

Tom Hurndall, UK – 2004

Tom Hurndall from the U.K. was a photojournalist and an ISM volunteer, like Corrie. Israeli forces targeted him when he was trying to help Palestinian children take cover during a firefight in the town of Rafah. As he moved to shield a young boy from gunfire, he was shot in the head by an IDF sniper.

He fell into a coma and remained unconscious until he succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 13, 2004. Despite calls for accountability and international pressure, none of the Israeli soldiers was prosecuted for Hook’s tragic demise.

This led to ongoing criticism from those who viewed the investigation and response as inadequate and ineffective.

Furkan Dogan, Türkiye – 2010

Turkish investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Dogan Furkan was killed in Gaza on June 22, 2010, when he was on his assignment covering the ongoing conflict and documenting the impact of Israeli military operations on Palestinian civilians. He was targeted when he was aboard a vehicle with fellow journalists en route to cover the news stories.

Dogan did not survive his injuries and died shortly after. Initially, the IDF forces reacted to the incident with their usual response, saying that the incident took place because of mistaken identity.

It was later clarified that the shooting was unintentional, as the convoy had been mistakenly identified as a threat. The incident yielded inconclusive results, with no accountability assigned.

Vittorio Arrigoni, Italy – 2011

Known for passionate advocacy for Palestinian rights, the Italian journalist Vittorio Arrigoni was also an active member of ISM. He moved to Gaza in 2008 to document the plight of Palestinians and the atrocious actions of the Israeli military. His famous slogan “Restiamo umani” (stay human) became a rallying cry for his supporters and those advocating for Palestinian rights.

On April 11, 2014, he was kidnapped by a Salafist group in Gaza. Despite and international pressure for his release, he was found murdered the next day, sparking outrage and mourning among activists worldwide. His unwavering fight for human rights and especially for Palestinians continues to inspire activists globally.

Basel al-Araj, Palestine – 2017

Known for intellectual activism, Palestinian writer, and activist Basel al-Araj was also dubbed as “the educated revolutionary” for combining his deep historical knowledge with grassroots activism. His writing not only highlights grassroots activism but also uncovers the historical context of the conflict. It was March 6, 2017, when Israeli forces tracked him to a hideout in Ramallah. After a two-hour standoff, during which al-Araj fought back with a gun, he was killed by Israeli soldiers.

His tragic demise sparked protests and vigils, making him a symbol of the ongoing Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination. His words: “Of what value, then, is a fearful man? I am a man who thinks and I can fight … I have found my answer. My rifle is ready, and I will not leave it until I see the first enemy soldier standing at my door,” echoes his fight for freedom.

Shireen Abu Akleh, Palestine and US – 2022

A veteran journalist and a seasoned correspondent, Shireen Abu Akleh Shireen was tragically killed while covering an Israeli raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on May 11, 2022. She was covering the Israel- Palestine conflict for 25 years and was one of the most known faces in Middle Eastern journalism.

She was shot dead while wearing a press vest and was on duty. Her death highlighted not only the plight of the Palestinians but also of the journalists covering the ongoing conflict. Calls for accountability and justice for her killing continue to this day. Akleh’s legacy lives on to date as an inspiration for the journalism fraternity.

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, Türkiye and US – 2024

The latest victim of Israeli brutalities is 26-year-old Eygi, who was shot dead on Sept.6 when she was protesting against the illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank. While the IDF confirms shooting Eygi, the world awaits the final and just verdict for the case.