US Citizen Dies During West Bank Protest

The U.S. State Department has confirmed the death of an American citizen during a protest in the West Bank.

The department expressed awareness of “the tragic death” of Aysrnur Egzi Eygi, but did not provide further details.

The agency did not disclose the cause of death. However, Reuters, citing the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, reported that a U.S. citizen participating in a protest against settlement expansion in the West Bank died of her wounds on Friday after being shot in the head by Israeli troops.

The incident occurred during a regular protest march by activists in Beita, a town near the city of Nablus that has experienced repeated attacks by settlers, according to WAFA.

Fouad Nafaa, head of the Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, told Reuters that the woman arrived at the hospital in a critical condition with a serious head injury.

“We attempted to perform a resuscitation operation on her, but unfortunately she died,” he said.

The Turkish government condemned the death and stated that Eygi was also a Turkish citizen.

The Israeli military is investigating the report.

“Today (Friday), during Israeli security forces activity adjacent to the area of Beita, the forces responded with fire toward a main instigator of violent activity who hurled rocks at the forces and posed a threat to them,” the IDF said in a statement.

“The IDF is looking into reports that a foreign national was killed as a result of shots fired in the area. The details of the incident and the circumstances in which she was hit are under review.”

In a statement, the State Department conveyed its deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.

“We are urgently gathering more information about the circumstances of her death and will have more to say as we learn more. We have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens.”

Turkey’s foreign ministry, in a statement, condemned the death, labeling it a “murder committed by the Netanyahu government.”

“Israel is trying to intimidate all those who come to the aid of the Palestinian people and who fight peacefully against the genocide,” the statement reads. “This policy of violence will not work.

“The Israeli authorities who commit crimes against humanity and those who unconditionally support them will be held accountable before international courts.”

The surge in violent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages in the West Bank has sparked growing anger among Western allies of Israel, including the United States, which has expressed concern.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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