A Turkish-American activist who was fatally shot by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank was hit in the head by a projectile that traveled a straight path from left to right, a forensic report obtained by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency revealed on Friday.

Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, was participating in a peaceful demonstration on Mount Abu Sbeih in the town of Beita, Nablus, on September 6, 2024, when she was shot by Israeli military forces. Eygi’s death has sparked an international outcry, with forensic evidence raising questions about the circumstances of the incident, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described as unintentional.

Eygi was struck by a bullet behind her left ear, causing significant damage to her brain, according to a preliminary autopsy conducted by Dr. Rayyan Al-Ali, director of the Forensic Medicine Institute at An-Najah National University, on behalf of the Palestinian Ministry of Justice. The report said no exit wound or bullet fragments were found, indicating that the projectile remained lodged inside her cranial cavity.

The forensic medical report noted that the gunshot wound caused extensive damage to the cerebellum, medulla oblongata and the base of the skull. Dr. Al-Ali confirmed that the bullet caused multiple fragments to tear through Eygi’s brain, leading to hemorrhaging and brain tissue rupture. “Despite the efforts to resuscitate her upon arrival at the hospital, she was declared dead at 2:35 p.m.,” the report said.

Eygi was transported by ambulance to Rafidia Surgical Hospital at 2:06 p.m., according to the report. She had already suffered cardiac arrest and had no vital signs upon arrival. A non-contrast CT scan revealed that the gunshot wound had caused severe trauma, leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma and pneumocranium, a condition in which air accumulates inside the skull.

The forensic report detailed that Eygi had “good nutritional and muscular condition,” further suggesting the impact of the gunshot, rather than underlying health issues, as the cause of her death. Additional bruising on the left side of her forehead and around her left eye was consistent with trauma from the fall that followed the shot.

The Israeli army has acknowledged that it fired the shot that killed Eygi, though it maintains that the bullet ricocheted and struck her unintentionally. US President Joe Biden referred to the shooting as an “accident” and said the U.S. was working with Israeli authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. “It ricocheted off the ground, and she got hit by accident. I’m working that out now,” Biden told reporters on Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously condemned the killing as “unprovoked and unjustified.” Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that such incidents must be prevented in the future. Similarly, the United Nations and the European Union have voiced concern over increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warning of the potential for a new escalation.

Israel mischaracterized events before Eygi’s death: Washington Post

An investigation by The Washington Post revealed that Israeli forces misrepresented events leading to the fatal shooting of Eygi.

The IDF initially claimed they were targeting the leader of a violent protest when Eygi was shot.

However, the Post report, based on witness accounts and video evidence, shows that the protest had largely subsided half an hour before the shooting, and Eygi had moved to a location over 180 meters away from the Israeli forces.

The IDF has not commented on why live ammunition was used.

Eygi’s family called for an independent investigation.

The US State Department has not committed to such an inquiry, though it has had access to Israel’s preliminary investigation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the killing and vowed to ensure that Eygi’s death “does not go unpunished.” Erdoğan, a vocal critic of Israeli military actions in Gaza, said Turkey would petition the United Nations for an independent investigation into the killing.

On Thursday Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that Ankara had launched an investigation into Eygi’s death and would seek international arrest warrants for those responsible. “We have the evidence, including video footage, showing the deliberate targeting of Eygi,” Tunç said in a statement.

Born in Antalya, Turkey, in 1998, Eygi graduated from the University of Washington in June 2024, where she studied psychology and Middle Eastern languages and cultures. She traveled to the West Bank in early September to volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led organization that seeks to support local communities facing Israeli occupation.

During her time in the West Bank, Eygi was participating in nonviolent protests against Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. On the day she was killed, Eygi was among a group of demonstrators protesting the expansion of Israeli settlements near Beita, a town that has seen frequent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in recent years.

Body arrives in Turkey for burial

Eygi’s body was flown to Turkey on Friday and received with a ceremony at İstanbul Airport. Turkish officials, including İstanbul Governor Davut Gül, attended the ceremony, where they offered prayers before her coffin, which was wrapped in the Turkish flag.

After the ceremony her body was transported to İzmir and then to the town of Didim on Turkey’s Aegean coast, where her family resides. The family plans to hold her funeral on Saturday. Eygi’s uncle, Ali Tikkim, expressed both grief and pride in his niece’s commitment to peace, saying, “It’s sad but also a source of pride for Didim.”

Eygi’s father, Mehmet Suat Eygi, criticized the US government’s response to the killing, stating that the American administration has been reluctant to hold Israel accountable. “When there is an injustice against one of its own, or a murder of its own citizens, America, like the eagle on its emblem, swoops down. But when it comes to Israel, there is an effort to evade it,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying.

The US government has called for a transparent investigation into Eygi’s death, with Biden urging Israel to “do more” to prevent such incidents. The White House said the killing was an “outrage” and emphasized the need for “full accountability.”

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Thursday that the US is in contact with both Israeli and Palestinian authorities to determine the full circumstances behind Eygi’s death. Jean-Pierre added that US officials have reached out to Eygi’s family and are planning additional discussions.

Turkey has pledged to pursue justice both at the United Nations and in international courts, including the International Criminal Court, where Israel faces ongoing cases.