The family of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish-American woman who was shot and killed while participating in a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, has called for an independent investigation into her death. The United Nations rights office reported that Eygi, 26, was fatally shot in the head during the protest in Beita on Friday.

In a statement, Eygi's family expressed their anguish, stating that her life was tragically taken by the Israeli military in a needless and violent manner. They emphasized that Eygi, who was peacefully advocating for justice, was allegedly killed by a bullet fired by an Israeli military shooter, as seen in video footage.

The family has called upon President Joe Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to order an impartial investigation into the unlawful killing of a US citizen and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

The Israeli military claimed that their forces "responded with fire" towards a protester who was instigating violence and posing a threat by throwing rocks at the troops. However, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a pro-Palestinian organization to which Eygi belonged, dismissed these claims as false and affirmed that the demonstration was peaceful.

ISM stated that Eygi was positioned more than 200 meters away from the Israeli soldiers, and there were no confrontations in that area leading up to her tragic death. Eygi's affiliation with ISM and her presence at the weekly protest against Israeli settlements in Beita further highlight her commitment to advocating for the rights of Palestinians.

Eygi's killing comes amidst ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators frequently rally against the Eviatar settlement outpost, supported by far-right Israeli ministers. The United Nations rights office, along with Rafidia hospital, confirmed that Eygi was shot in the head and subsequently pronounced dead.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey condemned the shooting, attributing the responsibility to "Israeli occupation soldiers" and labeling the action as barbaric. The United States has also expressed its sadness over the tragic event and urged its close ally Israel to conduct an investigation.

While Washington has called for an Israeli investigation, Eygi's family has deemed it inadequate given the circumstances of her killing. They insist on an independent investigation to ensure a thorough examination of the incident and bring justice to their daughter's untimely death.

In a chilling display, a video released by AFP showcased Eygi's body placed in a morgue next to the body of a teenage girl who was killed in a separate incident in the West Bank the previous day. The Palestinian health ministry attributed both deaths to "occupation bullets."

Ghassan Daghlas, the Nablus governor, accused Israeli forces of being responsible for both killings, emphasizing that the bullets used were the same. He appealed to the international community to intervene and put an end to the violence against Palestine.

Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi's family remembers her as a staunch advocate for an end to the violence faced by the Palestinian people. With Israeli settlements in the West Bank deemed illegal under international law, concerns over the continued loss of Palestinian lives persist. Since the Hamas attack on Israel in early October, at least 662 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry. In the same period, Israeli officials reported the deaths of 23 Israelis, including security forces, from Palestinian attacks.