By Janet Ekstract, ISTANBUL – U.S. lawmakers are demanding the American government conduct an official investigation into the killing of Turkish American, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi who was buried on September 14 in Turkiye, after being shot in the head in the West Bank by the Israeli military. Eygi’s family in an open letter to the Biden administration on September 6, called on the Biden-Harris administration to organize a US. Investigation into Eygi’s death because they stated, that Israel can’t be trusted to conduct an impartial investigation. Despite the Biden administration having called on Israel to conduct a thorough investigation into Eygi’s killing – her family said they doubt Israel will be held accountable. Eygi was living in Washington state and had just graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle when she chose to volunteer and support the Palestinian cause with an international organization. Though Israel claims Eygi’s killing was ‘unintentional’ – two autopsies, one completed in the West Bank and one done in Turkiye, both reveal she was shot in the head.
Eygi’s family said the U.S. needs to do a better job of protecting its citizens abroad and Corrie’s parents who to date have never received an apology or reparations from Israel for their daughter’s killing are also calling for a U.S.-led investigation into her death. As Eygi’s friend and fellow University of Washington graduate, told the press, “We are not putting our faith or trust in a military that deliberately shot and killed and individual to investigate themselves of their own crime.” Majid added: “What I want is justice and accountability, which to me looks like a US-led criminal investigation….I want the U.S. to hold [the Israeli military] accountable. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t be in this situation, Aysenur should be coming home alive.” A senator and a congresswoman from Washington state wrote to President Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) open an investigation. The two lawmakers wrote: “We fear that if this pattern of impunity does not end with Ms. Eygi, it will only continue to escalate,” citing the case of volunteer and activist Rachel Corrie who was bulldozed down by an Israeli soldier as she tried to block a Palestinian family home from being demolished..
Both U.S. lawmakers had demanded a written response by September 24 from the Biden administration about conducting such an investigation, what the U.S. government knew about Eygi’s killing and how the U.S. government will protect U.S. citizens abroad. Since the administration did not respond, over 100 members of Congress, including leading Democratic party officials Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Eric Swalwell along with Senator Bernie Sanders – sent a second letter to the president, Blinken and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding a U.S.-led investigation. Congress members stated: “Given the evidence, we believe the United States must independently investigate whether this was a homicide. To walk away without asking further questions gives Israeli forces unacceptable license to act with impunity.” Their statement added: “There must be accountability for Ms. Eygi’s death. Those lawmakers are demanding Eygi’s family receive a written report by October 4 that includes details about whether the U.S. government will investigate her killing and a timeline for the inquiry. They also want a response about how the U.S. government would respond if the Israeli government refuses to cooperate with
