An anti-American activist was killed by the Israeli army during a West Bank protest

2024-09-07 12:03:20

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi’s body was taken to Rafidia Surgical Hospital on September 6, 2024, in the West Bank city of Nablus. AREF TUFAHA/AP

The shot of an Israeli soldier that hit Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the head left little chance for the doctors at the Nablus hospital, in the occupied West Bank, to bring him back to life. A 26-year-old woman, of American nationality, but first from Turkey, whose country also has, according to Ankara, come to participate with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Friday September 6, in a move in support of a group of Palestinians who are fighting against the occupation of their land near Beita, south of the city of Nablus.

A protest is held on the site every week on Friday and is held around prayers, with the support of Israeli government activists, and sometimes the support of foreigners. This demonstration took place not far from a settlement, Evyatar, a former illegal “outpost” located on a prominent neighborhood, which was indirectly legalized in July by the Israeli authorities when the latter announced that this area “chamber[enait] to the City”thereby depriving Palestinian property owners of their rights.

“After the prayer was over, small skirmishes started, which led to the army firing live ammunition,” said Abdul Rahman Kabeisah, a Palestinian refugee who is now on the site. “In the beginning, the army has sold a lot [cartouches de] tear gas, before starting to fire live ammunition”, explains the note put together by the activists of the ISM group in the evening. The statement said that two shots hit the people present. The first time a Palestinian was injured in the leg. The second hit Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the head.

The progression of violence

The latter were standing, according to testimonies from other members of the organization, under an olive tree, not far from where their demonstration of support took place, when it struck. Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli activist who rides with Palestinians in the West Bank, is nearby. In the record posted on Instagram, his hands are still covered in blood, he says how he tried to provide first aid and take his pulse, which was very strong.

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi of Seattle undated photo provided by International Solidarity Movement. AP

Mr. Pollak told the American Daily The Washington Post that the demonstration was over when the shooting, with which he attacked Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, began. In a statement, the Israeli army said it was a group operating near Beita “replied with shots aimed at the first perpetrator of the violence that had been stoned [les soldats] and he made it dangerous for them”.