• Aysenur Eygi was killed by Israeli forces one year ago during a protest against illegal settlements.
• Eygi's family continues to seek accountability, citing a lack of U.S. government action.
• Eygi's husband and sister express their ongoing struggle with grief and commitment to justice.
• No criminal charges have been brought against Israeli forces for the deaths of U.S. citizens since 2022.
• The family plans to meet with Congress to increase pressure for an independent investigation.

One year after the death of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, her family remains determined to seek justice. Eygi was fatally shot during a protest in the occupied West Bank on September 6, 2024, against illegal Israeli settlements. Despite substantial video evidence and eyewitness testimonies suggesting she was deliberately targeted by an Israeli sniper, an initial Israeli military report characterized her death as likely resulting from "indirect and unintentional" fire. Eygi's family, alongside advocates, has consistently rejected this narrative, demanding an independent U.S. investigation into her killing; however, accountability continues to elude them, according to aa, trtglobal, and Al Jazeera.

Eygi's husband, Hamid Ali, described the year since her death as rife with confusion and sorrow, emphasizing the impact of her absence on their family. In a poignant reflection, he articulated, "It’s been very painful adjusting to life without Aysenur," indicating the emotional toll on himself and her relatives. Ali has articulated frustrations over the lack of investigative progress, stating that he feels "we're still asking for the same thing as we were on day one," echoing sentiments of disappointment from his late wife's family regarding U.S. government inaction, according to aa and trtglobal.

Calls for action from the U.S. government have been persistent, with Eygi’s family arguing that both the Trump and Biden administrations have deferred accountability to Israel. The U.S. State Department stated it prioritizes American citizens' safety but has referred inquiries related to Eygi's case back to Israel. This has raised concerns amidst broader patterns of impunity surrounding American deaths in the region, with human rights groups noting a striking absence of legal consequences following such incidents, reflecting a troubling precedent, as noted by aa, trtglobal, and Al Jazeera.

Eygi's family is not alone in their pursuit for justice. Since 2022, at least ten U.S. citizens have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, and none have seen accountability in these cases. Amid these tragic incidents, advocates urge a thorough reassessment of U.S. policy towards these investigations and broader support for human rights. Eygi's sister, Ozden Bennett, shared a commitment to ensuring their voices remain heard, affirming, "I see us continuing to ask for accountability… because it’s the right thing to do," which illustrates their undeterred resolve despite the lack of progress, according to aa, trtglobal, and Al Jazeera.

As the situation continues to develop, Eygi’s family is set to press their case with U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C., seeking support for a formal investigation into her killing. They are determined to transform their grief into action, highlighting that such accountability is necessary not only for justice regarding Eygi but for all lives lost in similar circumstances, which signals a broader systemic issue in the handling of violence against Americans abroad, as observed by the families of victims like Eygi, according to aa, trtglobal, and Al Jazeera.