Washington, DC – One 12 months after Israeli forces killed United States citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, her husband, Hamid Ali, says confusion and sorrow proceed to grip his life.
“It’s been very painful adjusting to life with out Aysenur – an empty home, seeing the impact it’s had on her father and her household. The phrase I’d use to summarise is complicated,” Ali informed Al Jazeera.
Beneficial Tales
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Ezgi Eygi, whose first identify is pronounced Aysha-nour, was fatally shot by Israeli forces whereas taking part in a protest in opposition to an unlawful settler outpost within the occupied West Financial institution on September 6, 2024.
As Israel intensifies its assault on Gaza, violence within the West Financial institution has additionally been on the rise. At the least 10 US residents have been killed by Israeli troopers and settlers since 2022.
The administrations of Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump have ignored calls by Ezgi Eygi’s household for a US-led investigation into her killing whereas Washington has continued to offer Israel with billions of {dollars} in army help.
Ozden Bennett, Ezgi Eygi’s sister, mentioned she understands that justice will not be close by however that doesn’t shake the household’s resolve to maintain the slain activist’s reminiscence alive.
“We’re dedicated to the long-haul journey of searching for justice and accountability and discovering that means within the strategy of doing that, even when it doesn’t occur instantly or maybe ever. I’m hopeful it should,” Bennett informed Al Jazeera.
“I see us persevering with to ask for accountability and justice for my sister as a result of it’s the precise factor to do and she or he deserves that. Each life taken senselessly by Israel deserves that.”
Remembering Aysenur
Ezgi Eygi, who was of Turkish descent and lived in Seattle, Washington, was 26 when she was killed. Those that knew her mentioned she was joyous and empathetic.
She had been engaged in activism from a younger age and was deeply moved by injustices within the US and overseas. Each Ali and Bennett described her as nearly “childlike” in her compassion and playfulness.
“She at all times had that sort of childlike essence to her, that curiosity, that silliness,” Bennett mentioned. “She was such a particular, candy – typically annoying – sister that I simply miss a lot.”
Ali believes it was that authenticity that drove her to activism.
“She was somebody who needed to dwell by her values and her beliefs, and she or he needed to say how she felt,” he informed Al Jazeera.
“In order that’s the sort of particular person she was, and that’s precisely why she felt like doing the activism that she did within the [United] States wasn’t sufficient. She felt like going to the West Financial institution was the following factor that she was in a position to do.”
At the least two extra US residents have been killed within the West Financial institution since Ezgi Eygi was shot.
In July, settlers beat Florida-born 20-year-old Sayfollah Musallet to demise. Lower than three weeks later, Khamis Ayyad, 40, a father of 5 and former Chicago resident, was additionally killed in one other settler assault.
In each circumstances, the households are calling for a US investigation into the killings, citing statutes that may allow such an investigation, together with the US-Israel Mutual Authorized Help Treaty.
However the Trump administration has solely referred to as on Israel to research its personal abuses. Israel hardly ever finds wrongdoing within the conduct of its forces in opposition to Palestinians and their supporters.
Equally, when Ezgi Eygi was killed final 12 months, the administration of then-President Biden referred to as on Israel to research the incident, however it didn’t launch its personal inquiry.
‘The hypocrisy is staggering’
That lack of accountability is a recurring sample. In all 10 circumstances of Individuals being killed by Israeli settlers and troopers since 2022, no felony costs have been introduced in opposition to the perpetrators
The victims embrace veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot within the head whereas carrying a vibrant blue jacket labelled “press”.
Rights advocates have referred to as the inaction a type of impunity for individuals who kill Individuals abroad. They hint the development again a long time, way back to 2003, when an Israeli bulldozer ran over activist Rachel Corrie in Gaza.
She had been attempting to guard a Palestinian house from demolition on the time of her demise.
Corrie, who was additionally from Washington state, is now one of many icons of the Palestinian trigger within the West. Nonetheless, nobody has been held accountable for her killing.
Ali drew a parallel between his spouse’s demise and Corrie’s killing.
“It was the identical with Rachel Corrie, and that was 20-plus years in the past, so this isn’t something new sadly,” he mentioned.
“We all know the sample, however it’s nonetheless irritating all the identical and intensely hypocritical.”
Regardless of that frustration, Ezgi Eygi’s relations have been bringing their calls for to US lawmakers and officers in an effort to maintain the case alive.
Final 12 months, they met with then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however in keeping with Ali and Bennett, the highest US diplomat conveyed an incapacity – a proverbial shrugging of the shoulders – to hunt justice.
However days earlier than Ezgi Eygi was killed, the US Division of Justice filed “terrorism, homicide conspiracy and sanctions-evasion” costs in opposition to Hamas leaders after the killing of the US-Israeli captive Hersh Goldberg-Polin in Gaza.
For Bennett, the distinction within the US strategy is obvious. “It sends a message that not all American lives are equal,” she informed Al Jazeera.
Raed Jarrar, the advocacy director on the US-based rights group DAWN, mentioned the US failure to pursue accountability for Ezgi Eygi and different US residents killed by Israel exhibits that Washington “values Israeli impunity greater than American lives”.
“The hypocrisy is staggering. When US residents are killed by anybody else, the US authorities mobilises each diplomatic, financial and army device at its disposal to demand justice and accountability,” Jarrar informed Al Jazeera.
“However when Israel kills Individuals, the US accepts Israeli ‘investigations’ and excuses, sends extra weapons and shields Israel from worldwide accountability.”
‘Irrelevant’ Israeli probe
An preliminary Israeli army report after the killing of Ezgi Eygi mentioned she was doubtless killed by “oblique and unintended” fireplace. However witnesses have mentioned she was focused within the head by a sniper.
There have been studies {that a} broader Israeli investigation into the incident was additionally launched, however there have been no public bulletins about its outcomes.
The Israeli authorities’s International Press Division didn’t reply to Al Jazeera’s request for remark.
Bennett mentioned the household will not be anticipating any measure of accountability to return out of an Israeli probe.
“The Israeli investigation – to us – is irrelevant as a result of it’s not applicable or acceptable to have Israel, the perpetrator of the homicide, examine itself,” she mentioned.
For Ali, justice for Ezgi Eygi might seem elusive, but when her reminiscence may help within the liberation of the Palestinian individuals, he mentioned, that may ease his sense of loss.
“I’m not essentially assured that it’s going to occur anytime quickly or that accountability will come anytime quickly, however I do know in a single kind or one other, it should come,” Ali mentioned.