Erdogan talks tough after Israeli forces killed Turkish-American activist in West Bank protest

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday condemned Israel for the reckless attack that led to the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish-American activist, during a protest in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking at an event in Istanbul, Erdogan accused Israel of committing genocide in both the West Bank and Gaza, claiming they aim to occupy these territories.

“Yesterday, they (Israel) heinously murdered our young child, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. To date, they have killed over 40,000 innocent civilians, including 17,000 children,” Erdogan said. “They attack barbarically and shed blood indiscriminately, whether it be children, women, youth, or the elderly.”

Erdogan called standing against Israel’s actions an Islamic duty and a national issue. He also highlighted Türkiye’s new diplomatic initiative with Egypt, which he said is aimed at supporting Gaza and Palestine.

The 26-year-old dual Turkish-American national was shot dead by Israeli forces on Friday during a protest against illegal Israeli settlements in the town of Beita in the Nablus district of the occupied West Bank, according to eyewitnesses.

Earlier, the Türkish government condemned the killing in a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The statement said, “It is with deep sorrow that we have learned of the killing of our citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by occupying Israeli soldiers in Nablus, West Bank.”

The ministry also extended its condolences to Eygi’s relatives.