In a statement released on Tuesday, the Israeli military claimed that the shooting of American activist Aysenur Eygi in the occupied West Bank last week was an unintended incident. However, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken vehemently criticized the killing, stating that it was "not acceptable" and demanding that Israel change its conduct.

Secretary Blinken's remarks mark the strongest condemnation by the United States towards Israel regarding the death of Eygi, who was participating in a protest in the West Bank. He emphasized that no one should be shot and killed for exercising their right to protest. This incident was the second time an American citizen had been killed by Israeli security forces in recent years, following the fatal shooting of a Palestinian American journalist in 2022.

During a news conference in London, Secretary Blinken called for fundamental changes in the operational procedures of Israeli security forces in the West Bank, including their rules of engagement. These changes were deemed necessary to prevent future casualties among unarmed civilians attending protests.

The Israeli military, in its initial inquiry into Eygi's death, expressed regret for the incident and asserted that their intention was to target a "key instigator" of the protest, which they described as a violent riot. However, eyewitnesses challenged Israel's justifications, stating that the clashes were over and occurred at a separate location from where Eygi and other protesters were standing. They claimed that the fatal shot was fired from a distance of more than 200 yards.

Palestinians have long accused Israel of using excessive force during clashes and protests in the West Bank, and Eygi's death has shed a spotlight on this ongoing issue. An autopsy report obtained by The New York Times revealed that Eygi sustained a fatal bullet wound to her head near her left ear.

The military police's criminal investigation division is currently examining the incident and will subsequently share its findings with military prosecutors. However, Eygi's family has expressed dissatisfaction with the military's preliminary inquiry, dismissing the suggestion that her killing was unintentional. They stated that the military's disregard for human life in its investigation was appalling and demanded an independent investigation into the deliberate targeting and killing of a US citizen.

Human rights advocates have criticized Israel for its history of failing to hold soldiers accountable for alleged wrongdoings in the West Bank. Sarit Michaeli, a spokesman for Israeli rights group B'Tselem, expressed doubt regarding the likelihood of meaningful accountability arising from this case, as similar incidents involving Palestinians rarely result in consequences for the perpetrators.

As of now, three key eyewitnesses have affirmed that they have not been contacted by the Israeli military to provide their testimonies regarding the incident. The bullet recovered during the autopsy was handed over to the Palestinian Authority's attorney general's office, which subsequently transferred it to a criminal investigations laboratory operated by the Palestinian police.

Eygi, a Turkish American dual citizen who resided in Seattle, had recently arrived in the West Bank to join activists affiliated with the International Solidarity Movement. She participated in a protest in the village of Beita against a settler outpost that had been established on lands claimed by the village. The Israeli government's recent decision to legalize the outpost intensified the ongoing demonstrations.

While the Israeli military asserted that the soldiers responded with gunfire towards a main instigator who posed a threat by throwing stones at them, witnesses present at the scene stated that the clashes had subsided before Eygi was shot. Israeli activist Eran Maoz, who was present at the protest, emphasized that Eygi was not involved in any confrontations and was tragically killed while seeking cover next to an olive tree.

The demonstrations in Beita began before the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the establishment of the Evyatar outpost on land claimed by the village. The outpost, illegal under Israeli law when it was established, was retroactively legalized by the Israeli government in June of this year. The international community generally considers all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.

As investigations continue, international attention remains focused on the need for justice and accountability in Eygi's killing. The incident underscores the ongoing concerns regarding the use of force by Israeli security forces in the West Bank and the urgent need for a comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.