U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his sorrow on Friday over the death of an American citizen in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and vowed to take action “as necessary.”
“We deeply regret this tragic loss,” Blinken said during a press briefing in the Dominican Republic, extending his “heartfelt condolences” to the family of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a dual U.S.-Turkish citizen.
When asked if the U.S. would respond with any measures against Israel, Blinken replied, “First, we need to fully understand what happened, and then we’ll determine the necessary steps and consequences.”
He further added, “Once we have more information, we will share it and take appropriate action if needed.”
Blinken emphasized that the safety and protection of American citizens around the world is his top priority.
Palestinian officials reported that Eygi was shot in the head by Israeli forces during a protest against Israeli settlements in the West Bank town of Beita. The Israeli military acknowledged opening fire in response to what it described as “violent activity” and stated it is investigating the incident.