Churches for Middle East Peace Condemns the Killing of U.S. Peace Activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) mourns the tragic killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old unarmed U.S. peace activist, by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during a weekly protest against increased Israeli settlements in the West Bank town of Beita. According to eyewitness accounts, the shooting took place 30 minutes after the protest had disbanded. Aysenur, along with other international volunteers, were about 200 yards from the Israeli military when she was shot twice. Aysenur’s death is not an isolated incident; it is part of a disturbing pattern of U.S. citizens being killed or targeted by the IDF, with no justice or accountability in sight.

This tragic loss only adds to a growing list of Americans, whose lives were taken by Israeli forces, such as Palestinian-Americans Shireen Abu Akleh, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, and Mohammad Khadour. In each case, there has been no meaningful accountability from Israel, and this systemic lack of justice only perpetuates further violence.

We are deeply disappointed by the U.S. government’s ongoing failure to adequately protect its citizens from such unjust killings. While condolences and statements are important, they are not enough. We call on the Biden administration to take immediate action and demand full accountability from the Israeli government. The U.S. must ensure an independent investigation into Aysenur’s killing, as we cannot rely on internal Israeli investigations to bring about justice for this unlawful and senseless act. Additionally, the U.S. administration must immediately halt the transfer of weapons to Israel in light of the credible reports that U.S. sourced weapons have been used in contravention of U.S. and international laws. 

We also join Aysenur’s family in their grief. As they shared publicly, “Aysenur felt compelled to travel to the West Bank to stand in solidarity with Palestinian civilians who continue to endure ongoing repression and violence. A U.S. citizen, Aysenur was peacefully standing for justice when she was killed by a bullet that video shows came from an Israeli military shooter. We call on President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary of State Blinken to order an independent investigation into the unlawful killing of a U.S. citizen and ensure full accountability for the guilty parties.” Their statement speaks to the extraordinary person she was, someone who embodied compassion and fierce advocacy for human rights. As they rightly note, Aysenur’s life was taken unlawfully and violently by the Israeli military, and they demand justice for the loss of their beloved daughter, sister, and friend. We pray for peace and justice, and we demand accountability so that tragedies like this will not continue.