President Joe Biden’s administration is facing new criticism from Democratic lawmakers after news broke that Israeli soldiers shot to death an American woman in the West Bank on Friday.
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Seattle resident who also held Turkish citizenship, was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers while attending a demonstration on the West Bank against Jewish settlement expansion, the Associated Press reported. The regular protests have previously turned violent, and Eygi was fleeing to safety after clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers when she was shot.
Eygi’s death is the most recent loss related to the Israel-Hamas war that has united many Democrats who are against providing U.S. aid to Israel. Democrat lawmakers again called for action on Friday.
Getty
“3 U.S. citizens have now been killed in the West Bank in 11 months. There MUST be justice & accountability,” Senator Chris Van Hollen posted on X (formerly Twitter). “The Netanyahu gvt hasn’t provided that & the Biden Admin needs to do more to obtain it. Those responsible must be held accountable & the DOJ must take action if necessary.”
3 U.S. citizens have now been killed in the West Bank in 11 months. There MUST be justice & accountability. The Netanyahu gvt hasn’t provided that & the Biden Admin needs to do more to obtain it.
Those responsible must be held accountable & the DOJ must take action if necessary: pic.twitter.com/wTDS0AEJzl
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) September 6, 2024
Newsweek reached out to the White House by email for comment.
Senator Patty Murray also demanded answers from Israel.
“I am heartbroken & angry about the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, an American citizen, in the West Bank today, who was peacefully protesting against illegal settlement activity,” she wrote on X. “Israel must deliver answers immediately & hold the perpetrators fully accountable.”
I am heartbroken & angry about the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, an American citizen, in the West Bank today, who was peacefully protesting against illegal settlement activity. Israel must deliver answers immediately & hold the perpetrators fully accountable.
Read my full…
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) September 6, 2024
On X, Representative Rashida Tlaib shared a press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and criticized America’s efforts in the war.
“Complete and utter failure in keeping Americans safe,” she wrote.
In the clip, when asked by reporters if Eygi’s death or the death of more Americans would spur policy changes regarding weapons provision to Israel, Blinken expressed condolences on behalf of the U.S. government to Eygi’s family.
“Any actions that we take are driven by the facts, so first things first, let’s find out exactly what happened and we will draw the necessary conclusions, consequences, from that,” he said.
Blinken also stressed that he had “no higher priority” than keeping Americans safe.
Eygi’s death comes not even a week after the Israeli military announced that it had found the bodies of six hostages who had been taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and about 250 others were taken hostage.
Israel’s subsequent offensive has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza, the AP reported. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reporting.
The ministry also said that more than 94,000 people have been wounded since the conflict began.
