The US State Department said Monday that Israel’s initial findings on the killing of Turkish-American activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi do not absolve Israeli security forces, warning that Washington may consider further action if not satisfied with the results of Israel’s full investigation.
Eygi, 26, a University of Washington graduate, was killed on September 6 while attending a protest against Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. Israeli authorities described her death as unintentional, saying soldiers mistakenly fired at her during a protest that turned violent. However, US officials have called the killing unjustifiable and urged Israel to make significant changes to its military rules of engagement.
Speaking during a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “I hear people … hold the initial findings up as if they somehow exonerated Israeli security forces. They very much do not, at least in our point of view.” He added that Israel’s full investigation must be “prompt,” “thorough” and “transparent” and that Washington will consider further measures if the findings do not meet those standards.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the killing, labeling it “unprovoked and unjustified” during remarks in London last week. Blinken has called for an overhaul of Israel’s military engagement rules in the West Bank.
The protest where Eygi was killed took place near the town of Beita, a frequent flashpoint for clashes over nearby Israeli settlements. Eyewitnesses said the protest had largely subsided when Israeli forces fired live rounds, striking Eygi, who had been standing with other unarmed demonstrators. Her death has triggered outrage, particularly in Turkey, and calls for justice by human rights groups.
Ankara said last week it was investigating Eygi’s death and pressed the United Nations for an independent inquiry.
Turkey said it was also planning to issue international arrest warrants for those responsible for Eygi’s death, depending on the findings of its investigation.
Israel’s military has acknowledged that soldiers fired the shots that killed Eygi but claimed they were targeting another individual it described as “the key instigator of the riot.” Miller, however, stressed that this explanation does not absolve Israel from responsibility, saying that the death should never have occurred.
While the US has called on Israel to conduct its own transparent investigation, some have questioned why Washington is not pursuing an independent investigation given Eygi’s American citizenship. Miller said the US would wait for Israel’s investigation to conclude before making any decisions on further steps but did not rule out future actions if the findings are deemed unsatisfactory.
“If the first investigation plays out … and we are not satisfied, we will of course look at whether any other measures are appropriate,” Miller said.
Eygi’s killing comes amid a sharp escalation of violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with frequent confrontations between Israeli settlers, Palestinians and security forces. The region has seen growing tensions due to Israeli settlement expansions, deemed illegal under international law, and frequent Palestinian protests against the ongoing occupation.
The US has also expressed concern over the increasing number of civilian deaths in the West Bank, with a rise in fatal incidents involving Palestinian protesters, journalists and aid workers. Miller reiterated Washington’s call for accountability, saying the US expects Israel to make reforms to its rules of engagement to prevent further civilian casualties.
Eygi’s death is reminiscent of other cases in which US citizens or dual nationals have been killed in the region. In 2003 American activist Rachel Corrie was crushed death by an Israeli bulldozer during a protest in Gaza. More recently, in 2022, Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while covering an Israeli raid in the West Bank, sparking international outrage. In both cases, the US faced criticism for not taking stronger action against Israel.
Eygi had long been involved in advocacy for Palestinian rights, and her killing has renewed calls for the US to reconsider its military aid to Israel. The Biden administration has faced growing pressure from lawmakers and human rights organizations to condition military assistance to Israel on human rights considerations, particularly following incidents of civilian casualties.
Despite the US urging changes in Israel’s military conduct, it remains unclear whether Israel will adopt significant reforms to its rules of engagement.
“… [W]e also want a change that will prevent this kind of thing from happening again, so you have long-term accountability to ensure that American citizens and others — Palestinians, citizens of other countries — aren’t killed just for showing up at a peaceful protest,” Miller said.