World
Funeral Procession for Aysenur Ezgi Eygi: American Woman Killed in West Bank Protest
Join us as we reflect on the funeral procession for Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, an American woman tragically killed during a protest in the West Bank. This poignant event highlights the impact of conflict and the human stories behind the headlines.
Funeral Procession for American Woman Killed in West Bank Protest
On Monday, a poignant funeral procession unfolded in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as the body of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American woman, was carried out of a hospital morgue. Draped in a Palestinian flag, her body drew a crowd of mourners who erupted in chants demanding justice for her untimely death.
Eygi was tragically shot in the head during a protest in Beita, a village in the West Bank, against an Israeli settler outpost. Witnesses and Palestinian officials reported that Israeli forces opened fire during the demonstration on Friday. In response to the incident, the Israeli military announced that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding her killing.
Born in Turkey, Eygi’s family has requested that she be laid to rest in her homeland. The Turkish foreign ministry confirmed in a statement that efforts are underway to transport her body directly to Turkey, in an attempt to avoid unnecessary delays.
Mourners gathered at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus on Monday afternoon, where Eygi was taken after being shot. The brief yet moving funeral was attended by a diverse group, including international and Israeli activists, Palestinian and Turkish officials, hospital staff, and even local children who encountered the procession while walking home from school.
“She was here supporting an occupied country despite not being from there,” expressed Azmi Miri, a Palestinian psychological services trainee at the hospital. He felt compelled to join the procession after learning about the tragic events surrounding Eygi’s death.
The crowd solemnly followed Eygi’s body as it was carried out of the hospital, pausing for a brief Islamic prayer. In a gesture of respect, a marching band from the Palestinian Authority security forces played in her honor. Following this tribute, her body was transported in a van, preparing for her journey out of the Palestinian territories.