Biden and Harris condemn killing of American citizen by Israeli troops in West Bank
President Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, the dual U.S.-Turkish citizen who was killed by Israeli troops in the West Bank – five days after the death of the 26-year-old activist.
“I am outraged and deeply saddened by the death of Aysenur Eygi,” Biden said in a statement. “The shooting that led to her death is totally unacceptable.”
Eygi, 26, was taking part in a protest against the expansion of Israeli-occupied settlements in the West Bank when she was shot in the head by Israeli troops and died of her wounds on Friday. In findings of the investigation into Eygi’s killing released Tuesday Israel said its troops likely “indirectly and unintentionally” shot Eygi.
Eygi’s family condemned Biden’s response for calling her killing “an accident based only on the Israeli military’s story.”
“This is not only insensitive and false, it is complicity in the Israeli military’s agenda to take Palestinian land and whitewash the killing of an American,” the Eygi family said in a statement.
The family said they have still not heard from Biden or Harris.
“Let us be clear, an American citizen was killed by a foreign military in a targeted attack,” they said in the statement. “The appropriate action is for President Biden and Vice President Harris to speak with the family directly, and order an independent, transparent investigation into the killing of Ayşenur, a volunteer for peace.”
Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday also released a statement calling Eygi's killing "a horrific tragedy that never should have happened."
"Doug and I are keeping her family and loved ones in our prayers," Harris said. "No one should be killed for participating in a peaceful protest. The shooting that led to her death is unacceptable and raises legitimate questions about the conduct of IDF personnel in the West Bank."
Harris said the administration will press the Israeli government for answers and access to the investigation.
"Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again," Harris said in a statement.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism from the Uncommitted National Movement, a progressive organization seeking an end to U.S. military support of Israel, after Biden and Harris expressed swift outrage over the deaths of Americans kidnapped by Hamas, but did not swiftly speak out about Eygi’s death.
Earlier this month, Biden and Harris spoke with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American who recently died after being taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Biden in his statement Wednesday that Israel “acknowledged its responsibility” for Eygi’s killing and Israel’s preliminary investigation indicated “it was the result of a tragic error resulting from an unnecessary escalation.” Biden said the administration has full access to the preliminary investigation and expects continued access as the investigation remains underway.
“There must be full accountability. And Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again,” Biden said.
On Tuesday evening, Biden briefly address the preliminary findings from Israel's investigation when speaking with reporters, calling the shooting an apparent "accident, ricocheted off the ground and just got hit by accident."
As violence in the West Bank continues, Biden calls for an end of it.
“Violent extremist Israeli settlers are uprooting Palestinians from their homes. Palestinian terrorists are sending car bombs to kill civilians,” Biden said. “I will continue to support policies that hold all extremists – Israelis and Palestinians alike – accountable for stoking violence and serving as obstacles to peace.”