Over 100 Lawmakers Demand Impartial Probe Into Israel Killing Ayşenur Eygi

Greater than 100 members of Congress have signed on to a letter demanding that the US conduct an impartial investigation into the Israeli forces’ killing of Turkish American activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi earlier this month within the occupied West Financial institution, after the army alleged that its troopers possible shot the younger pro-Palestinian girl on accident.

The Tuesday letter was drafted by Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat representing Eygi’s residence state of Washington. A Seattle resident and latest College of Washington graduate, the 26-year-old activist was shot lifeless by Israeli forces on Sept. 6 whereas she was volunteering as a global observer for Palestinians participating in a weekly protest in opposition to an unlawful settlement growth within the occupied territory’s village of Beita.

After information of Eygi’s killing unfold all through the worldwide neighborhood and the U.S., the Israeli Protection Forces stated it could conduct a preliminary investigation into the taking pictures — a uncommon transfer by the army that much more not often ends in accountability. Upon conclusion of stated preliminary investigation, the IDF said that it was “highly likely” that Eygi was “hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire which was not aimed at her” throughout a “violent riot.”

The letter stated that lawmakers are “deeply disturbed” by the IDF’s probe, which contradicts credible eyewitness accounts from fellow volunteers and Palestinians on the bottom, in addition to a latest Washington Submit investigation that corroborates the accounts with further interviews and photograph and video proof. Eygi’s household additionally known as the Israeli probe “wholly inadequate.”

The proof suggests that an Israeli sniper deliberately shot an unarmed Eygi within the head from an elevated place whereas she was in a quiet olive grove greater than 200 yards away from Israeli forces, about half-hour after clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli troopers subsided and most protesters had retreated.

The U.S. should take the proof into consideration and launch an impartial probe into whether or not Eygi’s killing was a murder, the lawmakers stated. The Biden administration and Congress have continued to offer unconditional army and diplomatic help for Israel, which has been accused of repeatedly violating worldwide legislation.

“To walk away without asking further questions gives Israeli forces unacceptable license to act with impunity. There must be accountability for Ms. Eygi’s death,” the letter said. “We therefore call on the White House, State Department and Department of Justice to lead an independent, thorough, credible and transparent investigation into the killing of Ms. Eygi. This investigation should include all evidence found and rationale for how findings were determined in a written report to the family.”

The letter, which supplies the departments till Oct. 4 to offer the written report, is adopted by eight pages of signatures from greater than 100 lawmakers in each congressional chambers.

Eygi’s household expressed appreciation for the letter, stressing their long-repeated requires each a radical impartial investigation and the discharge of all proof to her family members — strikes which are “the bare minimum” the household stated they need to anticipate from the Biden administration.

“As Ayşenur’s family, we know the United States is more accustomed to providing impunity to Israeli military and officials instead of justice for the family members impacted by Israel’s criminal actions,” the household stated in a Tuesday assertion. “The U.S. has never held Israeli actors accountable for its killings of American citizens, and the killings of tens of thousands of Palestinians whose lives were violently taken from them by U.S.-supplied weapons.”

Spokespersons for the White Home and State Division didn’t reply to HuffPost’s request for remark. A spokesperson for the Justice Division confirmed receipt of the letter, however declined to touch upon the substance.

Regardless of calling Eygi’s killing “unacceptable,” President Joe Biden appeared earlier this month to help Israel’s conclusion, saying that the American girl’s loss of life was “the result of a tragic error resulting from an unnecessary escalation.” Biden had additionally not but known as Eygi’s household, who discovered the president’s response “insensitive and false.”

Palestinians within the occupied West Financial institution have confronted a surge of settler and army violence ever since Israel launched its virtually yearlong offensive in Gaza, which started after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 individuals in southern Israel and captured greater than 200 hostages. As of Monday, the United Nations says Israeli forces have killed greater than 41,000 Palestinians and wounded greater than 96,000 in Gaza — whereas within the West Financial institution, troopers and settlers have killed a complete of almost 700 Palestinians.