NEW YORK, USA: The funeral of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish-American pro-Palestinian activist who was killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, has highlighted significant diplomatic tensions and differing national stances on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Eygi, who was 26 years old, was buried on Saturday in Didim, Turkey, amid a ceremony marked by intense displays of Turkish and pro-Palestinian sentiments. The New York Times reported that the funeral was characterized by a strong Turkish presence, with Turkish flags and chants of “God is great” echoing through the cemetery. Despite Eygi’s American citizenship and her upbringing in the United States, no American officials attended her funeral, and there were no American flags present.
The absence of American representatives at the funeral is reflective of the broader divergence in the responses of Turkey and the United States to the ongoing conflict. Since the outbreak of the latest war on Gaza on October 7, the United States has maintained strong support for Israel, continuing to supply military aid despite rising international concerns about civilian casualties. In contrast, Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been vocally critical of Israel’s actions, defending Hamas and condemning Israel’s conduct.
Eygi was fatally shot in the head during a protest against an Israeli settler outpost near Beita in the West Bank. Activists present at the protest reported that she was a significant distance from the Israeli soldiers and that the situation had calmed before she was shot. Her killing has spurred strong reactions, with senior Turkish officials including the vice president, justice, interior, and foreign ministers, and other high-profile figures attending her funeral. President Erdogan has stated that Turkey will seek to incorporate Eygi’s killing into a broader genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
The US has yet to address the specific circumstances of Eygi’s death publicly, and her father, Mehmet Suat Eygi, has expressed frustration with the American response. He criticized the U.S. for failing to stand up for his daughter, contrasting its typical assertiveness in protecting its citizens abroad with its apparent inaction in this case.
Eygi’s death has become a symbol of broader international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, where over 41,000 people, predominantly women and children, have been reported killed according to the Gazan health ministry.
As the conflict continues, Eygi’s death underscores the deepening rift between US and Turkish policies on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, reflecting broader geopolitical divisions and highlighting the complex interplay of international relations, national interests, and human rights concerns.
