The family of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a Seattle woman killed by the Israeli military last year, is advocating for an independent investigation into her death, as Washington lawmakers take steps to support their request.
During a recent legislative session, a new House resolution was passed that, while largely symbolic, pays tribute to Eygi’s life and her dedication to activism.
In a private gathering at the State Capitol, Cindy Corrie, the mother of Rachel Corrie—another American activist killed by the Israeli Defense Force during a demonstration in 2003—read the resolution acknowledging Eygi’s contributions.
“The House of Representatives posthumously recognizes the extraordinary life of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi and commends her legacy of activism, which continues to inspire other Washingtonians to fight for social and environmental justice and to work for a more equitable, sustainable world,” Corrie stated.
Eygi, 26, was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper on September 6 while she was observing protests against Israeli settlers in the West Bank for a Palestinian nonprofit.
Having recently graduated from the University of Washington, Eygi had actively participated in campaigns advocating for the university to cut financial ties with Israel.
Despite her efforts, the university’s Board of Regents recently voted against investigating its investments in Israel amid growing concerns over the conflict in Gaza, which Eygi had referred to as a “genocide.”
In the aftermath of Eygi’s death, more than 100 members of Congress sent letters to former President Joe Biden, urging a U.S.-led investigation.
In response, Biden described the killing as “unacceptable” and indicated his administration had access to Israel’s preliminary investigation, which deemed her death a “tragic error resulting from an unnecessary escalation.”
Despite this acknowledgment, Eygi’s family still feels a sense of uncertainty and unanswered questions.
Eygi’s husband, Hamid Ali, has expressed his frustrations regarding the lack of information surrounding her death.
“We don’t know anything,” he lamented.
Ali highlighted the absence of details about the soldier responsible, the military unit involved, or the commanding officers who may have issued orders during the incident.
In a bid to address the lack of accountability, Washington state lawmakers have introduced a proposal that calls for the federal government to investigate the deaths of American citizens at the hands of foreign governments, including Eygi’s case.
This resolution is expected to be deliberated during the 2026 legislative session.
Families of victims and civil rights organizations have welcomed this legislative effort.
Imran Siddiqui, executive director of the Washington chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations, emphasized the need for government accountability in protecting its citizens abroad.
“As Americans, we think to ourselves, ‘What if I get targeted overseas? What if something happens to me?’” Siddiqui said.
He underscored the expectation that the government would intervene if an American citizen were harmed or faced violence while abroad.
“What we’ve seen over the course of the past year is abject silence from many of our elected officials,” Siddiqui lamented, stressing the increased urgency for action and investigation into Eygi’s tragic death.
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