The U.S. government has urged Israel to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the killing of an American citizen during a protest in the West Bank. The State Department emphasized the need for clarity surrounding the incident and urged for the results of the investigation to be made public.

The victim, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old recent graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, was fatally shot on Friday during a demonstration against the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, as reported by the International Solidarity Movement.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have acknowledged that they "responded with fire toward a main instigator" who was throwing rocks during the protest. They confirmed that they are currently looking into reports that a foreign national, Eygi, was killed by shots fired in the area.

Eygi's family has asserted that she was peacefully protesting when she was killed, alleging that video evidence shows the bullet was fired by an Israeli military shooter. They have called for an independent investigation ordered by the United States, expressing doubts about the credibility of an Israeli investigation.

Vedant Patel, the State Department principal deputy spokesperson, reassured that Israel is conducting an investigation into the incident. The U.S. government expects a formal process in which the findings will be released, emphasizing that the safety of American citizens remains their highest priority.

Patel clarified that if an investigation were to be conducted by the U.S., it would be carried out by the Justice Department rather than the State Department. While encouraging the Israeli authorities to swiftly conclude their investigation, the U.S. also reaffirmed the importance of transparency and thoroughness in the disclosure of the findings.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, where Israel has launched a campaign against Hamas since the terrorist attacks on October 7, there have been accusations of Israeli forces delaying a truck carrying polio vaccine doses. Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, stated that the convoy was halted for eight hours at gunpoint near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint. He reported that UN armored vehicles were damaged by bulldozers.

The convoy was en route to northern Gaza to administer polio vaccinations to children, with prior coordination, Lazzarini explained. While all staff members and the convoy have been released, he condemned this incident as the "latest in a series of violations against UN staff," which includes shootings and arrests.

The Gaza Strip has been facing a sanitation crisis due to the ongoing conflict, and in August, a case of polio was confirmed, ending 25 years of being polio-free. Wastewater samples have revealed the presence of polio in the region.

Since the start of Israel's offensive in response to the Hamas attacks, conditions in Gaza have deteriorated significantly. According to Israeli officials, approximately 1,200 people were killed and 250 individuals were taken hostage during the terrorist attack. Disturbingly, dozens of captives still remain, as seen with the recovery of the bodies of six hostages, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, in a tunnel under Rafah last month. Local officials in Gaza have reported over 40,000 deaths since the Israeli offensive commenced.

The international community waits for the official investigation results in the West Bank killing, hoping for a clear understanding of what transpired. The U.S. government continues to emphasize the importance of a thorough and transparent investigation into such incidents, reiterating their commitment to the safety of American citizens.