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September 11, 2024

Blinken Calls Israel's Killing of U.S. Activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi "Unprovoked and Unjustified"
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The family of the Turkish American activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi says the
White House has not called to offer condolences after Eygi was fatally
shot in the head by an Israeli sniper at a protest in the West Bank town
of Beita last Friday. On Tuesday, President Biden said he believed Eygi
was killed by accident and that the bullet that struck her ricocheted
off the ground. The Israeli military said in a statement it was "highly
likely" Eygi was shot by its forces "indirectly and unintentionally" in
fire that was not aimed at Eygi but another protester. Secretary of
State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, criticized Israel's military for Eygi's
death.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken: "Her killing was both unprovoked and
unjustified. No one - no one should be shot and killed for attending a
protest. No one should have to put their life at risk just for freely
expressing their views. In our judgment, Israeli security forces need to
make some fundamental changes in the way that they operate in the West
Bank, including changes to their rules of engagement."

Despite those remarks, the Biden administration has yet to put any
conditions on U.S. arms transfers to Israel, including $20 billion in
additional weapons sales approved last month.


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