The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Tuesday (September 10th) called for a thorough reform of the Israeli military operations in the West Bank of the Jordan River. They condemned Israel for mistakenly killing an American citizen.
The victim of the incident was 26-year-old Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who held dual nationality of the United States and Turkey. She was shot dead last Friday while participating in a protest march near the village of Beita in Nablus.
Israeli military stated on Tuesday that the preliminary investigation found she was “highly likely” hit by Israeli Defense Forces’ artillery fire “indirectly and unintentionally.” Israel expressed deep regret about the incident.
President Biden later told reporters that “the bullet bounced off the ground” and hit her. Subsequently, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed the press that Biden’s information source was Israeli Defense Forces’ investigation results. She said Israel had informed the United States of the investigative conclusions on Tuesday.
Palestinian officials mentioned that Eygi was shot in the head and died upon arrival at the hospital.
Eygi’s family believes that Israel’s preliminary investigation is “completely insufficient” and is calling for an independent investigation by the United States. Eygi’s partner Hamid Ali responded to Biden’s statements by saying that Eygi’s death “was not an accident, and the perpetrator must be held accountable.”
“The White House has not spoken to us. For four days, we have been waiting for President Biden to do the right thing and pick up the phone,” Ali said.
On Tuesday, Blinken and Austin issued their strongest statements to date, criticizing the Israeli security forces and calling Eygi’s death “senseless and unjustified.” They each emphasized that Washington will insist on Israel reforming its military operations in the West Bank of the Jordan River.
Blinken said to reporters in London: “No one should be shot for participating in a protest. No one should risk their life to express their views freely.”
“We believe that the Israeli security forces need to fundamentally change their way of operating in the West Bank of the Jordan River, including altering their rules of engagement,” Blinken said. “Now we have a second American citizen dead at the hands of the Israeli security forces. This is unacceptable.”
Israeli government spokesperson declined to comment on Blinken’s remarks.
Pentagon stated on Tuesday that Austin had a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and added that he expressed “serious concern” over Eygi’s death.
Pentagon mentioned that Austin also urged Israel to “review the rules of engagement of the Israeli Defense Forces in the West Bank of the Jordan River.”
Israeli military indicated earlier that the Military Police Criminal Investigation Department is conducting an investigation, and once completed, the investigation results will be submitted for higher-level review.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters: “We will be very, very closely monitoring this matter.”
Kirby added: “We want to see how the current criminal investigation progresses, what they find, and whether and how accountability for relevant personnel is pursued.”
The Israeli military stated in a release that the military commander conducted a preliminary investigation into the incident, with the target of the military fire being not her, but another person identified by the military as a “main instigator of the riot.”
The military stated: “The incident occurred during a violent disturbance, where dozens of Palestinian suspects were burning tires and throwing stones at the security forces near the Beit El junction.”
Israel has requested the Palestinian authorities to conduct an autopsy.
Incidents of Israeli settlers violently attacking Palestinians in the West Bank have surged, prompting anger from Western countries including the United States, which has sanctioned some Israelis participating in the hardline settler movement.
Since 2020, Palestinians have been protesting every week in Beita against the expansion of nearby settlements.
Since the Middle East War of 1967, Israel has been occupying the West Bank of the Jordan River, with Palestinians aspiring to make this region the core of a future independent state. However, Israel has been building more and more settlements there, with most countries regarding these settlements as illegal. Israel disputes this claim and cites historical and biblical connections to the territory.