Body of activist shot in West Bank arrives in Turkiye

Above, honor guards and mourners watch over the coffin of Turkish-American Aysenur Ezgi Eygi during her funeral procession at Istanbul airport. (Demiroren News Agency/AFP)
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  • The UN rights office has accused Israeli forces of shooting Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the head
  • Her family said she was 鈥榮hot in the head and killed by a bullet from an Israeli soldier鈥�

ISTANBUL: The body of a US-Turkish activist, shot dead by Israeli forces while protesting against illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, arrived in Turkiye on Friday.
The killing last week of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, has sparked international condemnation.
The United Nations rights office has accused Israeli forces of shooting Eygi in the head.
The Israeli army has acknowledged opening fire in the area and has said it is looking into the case.
Turkish officials, including Istanbul governor Davut, Gul attended the ceremony at Istanbul鈥檚 airport, where they prayed before the coffin wrapped in the Turkish flag.
Ankara has launched an investigation into Eygi鈥檚 death during a protest in the occupied West Bank town of Beita.
It has also petitioned the UN to launch an independent inquiry into the killing.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a vocal opponent of Israel鈥檚 war in Gaza, has vowed to ensure 鈥渢hat Aysenur Ezgi鈥檚 death does not go unpunished.鈥�
Her family said she was 鈥渟hot in the head and killed by a bullet from an Israeli soldier鈥� during a weekly demonstration against Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.
US President Joe Biden called on Wednesday for Israel to provide 鈥渇ull accountability鈥� and demanded it 鈥渄o more鈥� to avoid such killings.
The European Union鈥檚 top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that increased violence in the occupied West Bank meant it risked becoming 鈥渁 new Gaza.鈥�
Eygi鈥檚 family is hoping to hold her funeral on Saturday in the western coastal town of Didim.
鈥淚t鈥檚 sad but it鈥檚 also a source of pride for Didim,鈥� Eygi鈥檚 uncle Ali Tikkim, 67, who lives in the town, said on Wednesday.