American Turkish woman killed at protest in West Bank
- Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, was shot and killed during an antisettlement protest
- Witnesses say she was shot by Israeli soldiers
- The White House said it was 'deeply disturbed' by the killing
(NewsNation) — The U.S. State Department confirmed a 26-year-old American woman was killed Friday in the West Bank.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller identified the woman born in Turkey as Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.
The White House said it was “deeply disturbed” by the killing.
“Our hearts go out to her family and loved ones. We have reached out to the Government of Israel to ask for more information and request an investigation into the incident,” said Sean Savett, a White House National Security Council spokesperson.
Witnesses told The Associated Press Eygi was shot by Israeli soldiers during an antisettlement protest.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli added the country would exert “all effort to ensure that those who killed our citizen is brought to justice.”
The Israeli military said it was investigating reports of troops firing at an “instigator of violent activity” in the area of the protest.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces appeared to have withdrawn from three refugee camps after a more-than-weeklong military operation that left dozens dead. Israel claims the large-scale raids in the territory were aimed at dismantling militant groups and preventing attacks. Palestinians fear a widening of the war in Gaza.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.