Van Hollen Joins Welch, Bicameral Group of Lawmakers in Requesting Answers from State Department on Death of U.S.–Turkish Citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, Fatally Shot by an Israeli Soldier in the West Bank
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and a bicameral group of colleagues, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) in requesting answers from the Department of State on the fatal shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a United States-Turkish citizen who was killed by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank in September 2024. In their letter, the lawmakers highlight that while the Israel Defense Forces is investigating the shooting, which also injured a 17-year old boy, their preliminary report differs significantly from several eyewitness statements about the incident.
“We are not aware of any evidence that Aysenur, the teenage boy, or anyone else in her proximity posed any threat to the soldier who shot her, or to anyone else,” wrote the lawmakers. “We understand the Israel Defense Forces is investigating this shooting, but a preliminary report released on September 10, 2024, which was reportedly based entirely on information provided by Israel Defense Forces soldiers, asserted that Aysenur was hit ‘indirectly and unintentionally by Israel Defense Forces fire, which was not aimed at her, but aimed at the key instigator of the riot.’”
“Detailed statements of international, Israeli, and Palestinian eyewitnesses, as well as a Washington Post inquiry that included interviewing 13 eyewitnesses and reviewing more than 50 videos and photographs, describe a significantly different sequence of events, which occurred far from the illegal Evyatar outpost,” continued the lawmakers.
In their letter, the lawmakers requested answers from the Department of State on the following:
- What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that Aysenur posed a threat to the soldier, or to anyone else, when the soldier fired the shots?
- What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that the soldier who shot her was not aiming at her?
- What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that the teenage boy who was injured posed a threat to the soldier, or to anyone else, when the soldier fired the shots?
- What IDF unit was the soldier assigned to?
- Who was the “key instigator” and where was he (or she) located when the soldier fired the shots?
- What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that the “key instigator” posed a threat to the soldier, or to anyone else, when the soldier fired the shots?
- Have you requested the Department of Justice to investigate Aysenur’s case? If not, why not? If so, is an investigation underway?
Read the full text of the letter here or below:
Dear Secretary Blinken,
On September 6, 2024, 26-year-old U.S.-Turkish citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was fatally shot by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank village of Beita. The soldier was reportedly standing behind a concrete wall on a rooftop of a concrete house at an elevated location approximately 215 – 230 meters from where Aysenur was standing next to a tree, and he fired two shots in close succession using a rifle. A local 17-year-old boy, reportedly standing approximately 15 – 20 meters from her on the other side of the tree, suffered a minor injury from a fragment of the first bullet that had reportedly ricocheted off a metal object. The second bullet hit Aysenur on the left side of her head. We are not aware of any evidence that Aysenur, the teenage boy, or anyone else in her proximity posed any threat to the soldier who shot her, or to anyone else.
We understand the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is investigating this shooting, but a preliminary report released on September 10, 2024, which was reportedly based entirely on information provided by IDF soldiers, asserted that Aysenur was hit “indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire, which was not aimed at her, but aimed at the key instigator of the riot.” Detailed statements of international, Israeli, and Palestinian eyewitnesses, as well as a Washington Post inquiry that included interviewing 13 eyewitnesses and reviewing more than 50 videos and photographs, describe a significantly different sequence of events, which occurred far from the illegal Evyatar outpost. This case is disturbingly like the fatal shooting of Shireen Abu Akleh by an Israeli soldier located nearly 200 meters away. Shireen and Aysenur each died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
We appreciated your statement that Aysenur’s death was “unprovoked and unjustified,” and request your answers to the following questions no later than Tuesday, January 14, 2025:
1. What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that Aysenur posed a threat to the soldier, or to anyone else, when the soldier fired the shots?
2. What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that the soldier who shot her was not aiming at her?
3. What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that the teenage boy who was injured posed a threat to the soldier, or to anyone else, when the soldier fired the shots?
4. What IDF unit was the soldier assigned to?
5. Who was the “key instigator” and where was he (or she) located when the soldier fired the shots?
6. What evidence, if any, is the Administration currently aware of that the “key instigator” posed a threat to the soldier, or to anyone else, when the soldier fired the shots?
7. Have you requested the Department of Justice to investigate Aysenur’s case? If not, why not? If so, is an investigation underway?
Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,