Washington State Elected Officials Request U.S. Government Lead Independent Investigation Into Killing of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi by Israeli Forces

by Lauryn Bray

Over 70 elected officials in Washington State have signed a letter requesting an independent investigation into the death of University of Washington graduate, Seattle resident, and activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Sept. 6. 

“Due to potential politicization of Ayşenur’s killing, we request the U.S. government lead an independent investigation [that includes] all evidence found, and rationale for how findings were determined, in a written report to the family,” the letter states.

Shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by Stranger reporter Hannah Krieg, the signed letter calls Eygi “a beloved member of the community” and condemns the Israeli government’s account of the circumstances leading up to her death. Krieg’s post does not specify exactly to whom the letter was sent.

The letter also points out discrepancies between eyewitness testimony, hospital reports, and the Israeli government’s account of Eygi’s death. “Israeli officials’ description of the circumstances of her death have been refuted by eye-witness and hospital reports. A hospital autopsy confirmed that Ayşenur was killed by a sniper bullet to the head. The government of Israel must deliver answers immediately and hold the perpetrators of this killing accountable,” the letter states.

Eygi, an activist, was in the West Bank with International Solidarity Movement (ISM) as part of a team of international observers who were there to witness illegal actions in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Eygi was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper while in the village of Beita. She was just 26 years old.

The press release includes signatures from over 70 Washington State elected officials, including 25 State House representatives; eight county councilmembers from King, Pierce, and Whatcom Counties; and 14 city councilmembers from Bothell, Redmond, SeaTac, Tacoma, and Olympia. Tammy Morales was the only Seattle City Councilmember to add her signature.

Prior to this, on Sept. 11, Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Pramila Jayapal signed a letter addressed to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken demanding an independent investigation into Eygi’s death.

That same day, in a statement released by the White House, Biden said he was “outraged and deeply saddened” by Eygi’s death, but as of Sept. 15, has not announced formal plans to launch an independent investigation into her death. Vice President Kamala Harris also released a statement calling Eygi’s death a “horrific tragedy that never should have happened,” and “the result of a tragic error for which the IDF is responsible” of which “there must be full accountability.”

Eygi’s family released a statement calling for an independent U.S. investigation into the death of their beloved family member: “We welcome the White House’s statement of condolences, but given the circumstances of Ayşenur’s killing, an Israeli investigation is not adequate. We call on President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary of State Blinken to order an independent investigation into the unlawful killing of a U.S. citizen and to ensure full accountability for the guilty parties.”

Lauryn Bray is a writer and reporter for the South Seattle Emerald. She has a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from CUNY Hunter College. She is from Sacramento, California, and has been living in King County since June 2022.