American-Turkish activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi who was killed by the Israeli army on 6 September 2023. (Photo of activist circulating on social media networks)
BEIRUT — Hamas condemned the killing of American-Turkish activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by the Israeli army in a statement on Friday. Eygi was shot in the head in the town of Beita, near Nablus in the West Bank, on Friday during the town's weekly anti-settlement march.
“This act is part of a pattern of violence against foreign supporters of the Palestinian cause, including the notable case of Rachel Corrie, who was crushed by an Israeli tank in 2003,” Hamas said in its statement.
“We call on the international community, the U.N., and its various institutions to act swiftly to hold the Israeli government accountable for its actions. We also urge the U.S. administration to reconsider its policies that support these crimes, which have now resulted in the death of an American citizen,” the statement concluded.
According to the Palestinian-state news agency, Wafa, the Israeli army used live ammunition, stun grenades, and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the protest in Beita, which, in addition to fatally wounding Eygi, caused shrapnel to injure an 18-year-old Palestinian.