Turkey has opened an investigation into the death of American-Turkish citizen Aysenur Eygi, and will request international arrest warrants, Ankara said on Thursday. The Foreign Ministry said she “was deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli soldiers during a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians. We will make every effort to ensure that this crime does not go unpunished.”
26-year-old Aysenur Eygi was killed by IDF fire on Friday in a violent gathering of dozens of Palestinians who had set tires on fire and threw rocks at the forces at the Beita Junction. The incident has sparked concern in the United States and significant outrage in Turkey.
A Turkish foreign ministry source said it was anticipated that Eygi’s body would be flown from Tel Aviv to Baku on Thursday night, and on to Istanbul on Friday morning. She is expected to be buried in the western Turkish city of Didim, on the Aegean coast.
Separately, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the Ankara chief prosecutor’s office is investigating “those responsible for the martyrdom and murder of our sister Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.”
He told reporters that Turkey had evidence regarding the killing and would make international arrest requests.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday that Eygi’s death was unacceptable and Israel must do more to make sure such an event never happens again.
The timeline does not seem to match
On Wednesday night, The Washington Post reported that the timeline of Eygi, who was killed by IDF fire near the Beita Junction, West Bank, did not match that of the peak clashes in the area.
The report alleges that Eygi was shot about 20 minutes after the crowd had moved on the main road more than 200 meters away from the Israeli security forces.
The IDF, following the incident, released a statement indicating that it is highly likely that Eygi was unintentionally hit by indirect fire from Israeli forces. The fire was aimed at a primary agitator who was throwing rocks at the forces and posed a threat.
The IDF also emphasized that a Military Police investigation has been opened in response to the incident, and the military advocate-general will review the findings upon its conclusion. Additionally, Israel has requested to conduct an autopsy.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the incident, stating that “the killing of the American activist in the West Bank was unjustified and unprovoked. No one should be harmed by gunfire for participating in a protest. Israel needs to make changes in how it operates in the West Bank, including revising the IDF’s rules of engagement.”
US President Joe Biden spoke with Eygi’s family shortly after the incident.