IDF regrets ‘unintentional death’ of US-Turkish protester in West Bank

Israel's military on Tuesday (Sep 10) acknowledged it was highly likely its troops shot dead Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, the American-Turkish woman, in the West Bank. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expressed its regret over the incident, calling it ‘unintentional.’

Earlier, the IDF said it conducted an investigation into the incident.

“The inquiry found that it is highly likely that she was hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire, which was not aimed at herbut aimed at the key instigator of the riot,” the IDF statement read.

“The incident took place during a violent riot in which dozens of Palestinian suspects burned tyres and hurled rocks towards security forces at the Beita junction,” it added.

IDF’s statement came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken termed the killing of the 26-year-old woman “unprovoked and unjustified”.

“No one should be shot and killed for attending a protest,” Blinken said during a trip to London.

Earlier, Turkish and Palestinian officials had also criticised Israel for the death of the woman, saying she was a volunteer with the activist group International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and was killed on Friday (Sep 6) while attending a demonstration.

Earlier, the Palestinian Authority held a funeral procession for the deceased woman on Monday (Sep 9) in the West Bank. Turkey said it was working to get her body repatriated for burial in the Aegean coastal town of Didim, as per her family’s wishes.

West Bank violence

The killing came amidst a fresh surge of violence in the West Bank, with increasing Israeli raids and attacks by Palestinian militants.

Human rights groups allege that such killings by the IDF are not uncommon, and the soldiers who kill Palestinians or their foreign supporters are rarely held to account.

On the other hand, the IDF maintains it thoroughly investigates allegations of its forces killing civilians and holds them accountable.

(With inputs from agencies)