US Waits For Israel Before Consequences Of Murder Of Its Citizens

West Bank/DOK UNRWA

JAKARTA - The United States (US) will wait for the results of an Israeli investigation into the killing of Turkish-American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi before determining whether any action is appropriate to be imposed on the Israeli soldiers involved.

"We will wait to provide an assessment of what steps to take, until we receive the results of the investigation," said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

Miller said Israel's investigation into Eygi's murder should be intensive, fast, and transparent."

"We will make any decision after the investigation is complete," he said.

He also repeated Foreign Minister Antony Blinken's previous statement that the US hoped Israeli forces would make changes to the rules of engagement.

When asked by Anadolu whether there would be consequences if Israel killed a US citizen, Miller replied, "wait the results of the investigation to find out whether there are special criminal consequences for individuals involved".

"We have read reports about the use of excessive force by Israeli security forces against Palestinians and now two American nationals have died, and we want it to end soon," Miller said.

"That's why we want changes to the rules of engagement."

Eygi, 26, a Turkish-US citizen, was killed by Israeli forces on September 6 while protesting peacefully against Israeli illegal settlements near the Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

According to an initial investigation by the Israeli army on Tuesday (10/9), Eygi is said to have been "very likely" to be hit by Israeli shots "indirectly and unintentionally" targeting a major provocateur during the protests.

However, video evidence and eyewitness testimony contradict Israel's version of the incident.

The latest report from The Washington Post newspaper revealed Eygi was shot more than 30 minutes after the peak of confrontation in Beita.

Eygi's shooting also came about 20 minutes after protesters moved about 183 meters on the main road, away from Israeli forces.

The family said Eygit was killed because it was the target of the attack. They asked the US government to conduct an independent investigation into Eygi's death, as did the Turkish government.

Eygi, was born in Antalya, Turkey, in 1998. As a baby, he was taken by his family to move to the US together.

Eygi graduated in June from Washington University, where he studied psychology and Middle Eastern language and culture.

He arrived in the West Bank last Tuesday to volunteer the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) as part of an effort to support and protect Palestinian farmers.