Who was Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26-year-old allegedly shot dead by Israeli forces in West Bank?

Photo: Courtesy of Eygi family/International Solidarity Movement

The family of US-Turkish citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who was shot and killed in the occupied West Bank on Friday, have called on US authorities to launch an independent investigation into her killing.

In a statement, the family said "given the circumstances of Aysenur's killing, an Israeli investigation is not adequate."

"A US citizen, Aysenur was peacefully standing for justice when she was killed by a bullet that video shows came from an Israeli military shooter," the family said. It urged the US to ensure accountability "for the guilty parties."

The family said Eygi had graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle three months ago. 

"Aysenur felt compelled to travel to the West Bank to stand in solidarity with Palestinian civilians who continue to endure ongoing repression and violence."

Eygi was shot dead while protesting against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli army acknowledged opening fire at protesters throwing stones on Friday.

Palestinian and Turkish officials said Israeli troops shot and killed the 26-year-old. 

The White House has said it was "deeply disturbed" by Eygi's death, but did not say whether she had been shot by Israeli troops. It has urged Israel to investigate.

The Israeli military said it was looking into reports that a female foreign national "was killed as a result of shots fired in the area. The details of the incident and the circumstances in which she was hit are under review."

Israel's military also said the shooting involved an "instigator of violent activity" in the area of the protest.