Seattle protest honors Turkish-American activist Eygi, killed by Israeli forces

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Saturday in Seattle for a Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi who was killed in an Israeli attack during an anti-occupation protest in the occupied West Bank.

The demonstration at Westlake Park came one day after Eygi, 26, was killed by Israeli forces while participating in a protest against illegal settlement expansion in the town of Beita, near Nablus in the northern West Bank.

Protesters chanted against Israel, and held signs with slogans such as: “Aysenur Eygi Martyred For Palestine Rest in Powe,” “Justice 4 Aysenur”, “Today We Are All Aysenur”, “Resistance Is Not Terrorism! Free Palestine!”

Nablus Gov. Ghassan Daghlas said Saturday that an autopsy confirmed Eygi was killed by an Israeli sniper’s bullet in the head.

Eygi had been actively involved in solidarity movements supporting Palestinian rights. Her death has sparked outrage and demands for accountability from local and international communities.

Born in Antalya, Türkiye in 1998, Eygi moved to Seattle, Washington, with her parents, Rabia Birden Eygi and Mehmet Suat Eygi, when she was less than a year old.

She graduated from the University of Washington in June, where she studied psychology and Middle Eastern languages and cultures.