Joined by more than 100 Congress members, a Seattle family continues to call for an independent U.S. investigation into the killing of their 26-year-old daughter, Ayşenur Eygi. Eygi was shot in the head by Israeli defense forces after observing a pro-Palestinian protest in the West Bank on Sept. 6.
Israeli government officials said in the days following Eygi’s death that the country’s military "likely" and "unintentionally" killed her.
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President Biden called the shooting "unacceptable" in a written statement published Sept. 11, and said his administration "had full access to Israel’s preliminary investigation" and that it "indicated that [Eygi’s death] was the result of a tragic error resulting from an unnecessary escalation."
While President Biden expressed an intention to continue monitoring Israel’s investigation into Eygi's death, her family and various elected officials say that’s not enough.
Washington state Democratic Congressman Adam Smith sent a letter , co-signed by 102 Congress members, to Biden, U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken, and Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday casting doubt over Israel’s characterization of the shooting.
"This contradicts credible, independent eyewitness accounts that suggest the shooting was intentional without provocation," the letter reads. "A Washington Post investigation based on interviews with eyewitnesses and West Bank residents, photos, and videos indicates the shooting occurred 'more than a half-hour after the height of confrontations in Beita, and some 20 minutes after protesters had moved down the main road — more than 200 yards away from Israeli forces.'"
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Smith requested that the administration commit to and provide a timeline for an independent investigation, and provide a written explanation by Oct. 4 of what U.S. officials currently know about Eygi’s death, and how they’ll hold Israel accountable.
"This investigation should include all evidence found and rationale for how findings were determined in a written report to the family," the letter continues.
In a response posted online, Eygi’s family members said they were grateful for the support, and reiterated their demands for an independent criminal investigation and accountability.
The family still hasn’t received a call from the Biden administration as of Thursday morning, said Juliette Majid, a friend of Eygi’s who is acting as her family’s spokesperson.
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"The U.S. has the leverage and the power to bring accountability and justice. So why aren't they doing that? Why aren't they fighting for accountability and justice for Ayşenur?" she said.
Eygi was planning to come back home to Seattle after her two-leg trip to visit family in Turkey and volunteer with the nonprofit Palestinian advocacy group International Solidarity Group in the West Bank.
Reuters reported Monday that Turkish government officials have submitted documents related to their investigation into Eygi’s killing to the International Criminal Court and the United Nations.
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