Full Breakdown
Seattle Vigil Honors Aysenur Eygi, American Activist Killed in the West Bank
8/10/2026, 9:21:00 PM
Seattle Vigil Honors Aysenur Eygi
Hundreds gathered on a Seattle beach on Wednesday night to mourn Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American-Turkish activist who was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank the previous Friday. Attendees lit battery-operated candles spelling her name in the sand, displayed Palestinian flags, and shared personal recollections of her generosity and commitment to justice. Friends described the gathering as a reflection of the community she had built, both on campus and abroad.
Eygi’s Activism and the Circumstances of Her Death
Eygi, a recent psychology graduate of the University of Washington, had traveled to the West Bank with the International Solidarity Movement to protest Israeli settlements. Israeli protester Jonathan Pollak, who was present, said she posed no threat and that the shooting occurred during a calm moment after earlier clashes involving stone-throwing protesters and Israeli troops. The Israeli military later said she was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally.” Eygi also held Turkish citizenship; her family has called for an independent investigation and for the repatriation of her body to Turkey for burial.
Official Reactions
President Joe Biden expressed that he was “outraged and deeply saddened” by Eygi’s killing and called for full accountability, urging Israel to take steps to prevent similar incidents. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that Turkey is investigating the death, that the Ankara chief prosecutor’s office is leading the probe, and that the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv and consulate in Jerusalem are monitoring the case. Turkey also indicated that measures to bring Eygi’s body to Turkey have been completed, with burial expected in the coming days.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We will take every judicial step for our martyred daughter, Aysenur,” — Yilmaz Tunc, turkish justice minister
- “She felt so strongly and loved humanity, loved people, loved life so much that she just wanted to help as many as she could,” — Juliette Majid, 26, now a doctoral student at North Carolina State University
