On Friday, a tragic incident unfolded in Beita, south of Nablus, where Aisha Noor Ezgi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American activist, was fatally shot by Israeli occupation forces during a protest against settlement expansion in the West Bank. According to reports from the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), Ezgi was critically injured when she was struck in the head by live ammunition while participating in a weekly anti-settlement march at Jabal Sabih. Despite efforts by medical teams at Rafidia Governmental Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the protest, aimed at opposing Israeli settlement activities, escalated into violent clashes as occupation forces responded with live fire, sound bombs, and tear gas. In addition to Ezgi, another protester, an 18-year-old male, sustained injuries from shrapnel. Ezgi, who held American citizenship and was of Turkish descent, was actively involved in the 'Faz'a' campaign, which seeks to protect Palestinian farmers from settler violence.
Following the incident, the Israeli army announced it would investigate the circumstances surrounding Ezgi's death, although no immediate comment was made by the U.S. embassy. The killing has sparked widespread condemnation from Palestinian officials and activists, who accuse Israel of targeting foreign activists. Nablus Governor Ghassan Daghlas stated that the Israeli government bears responsibility for the death of foreign nationals on Palestinian soil. Meanwhile, Hamas officials have described the shooting as a deliberate assassination, highlighting the ongoing violence faced by those advocating for Palestinian rights.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence against activists in the region, raising serious questions about the safety of individuals standing in solidarity with Palestinians. As protests continue, voices from both local and international communities are calling for accountability and justice for Ezgi and others who have been harmed in similar circumstances.
