A Response to the Killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi

From Cindy and Craig Corrie

The Corries are the parents of Rachel Corrie, a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) who was killed by the Israeli military on March 16, 2003, as she stood to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza.

September 6, 2024

On Friday, a soldier in the Israeli military killed American and Turkish citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. Aysenur was a May graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, a student of

psychology, an activist, and a recent volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement in the West Bank. Our family is saddened and outraged by the heinous act that killed her. We mourn with Aysenur's family and friends and hold them in our hearts in this most devastating time.

According to the International Solidarity Movement, Aysenur is the 18th protester killed in the Palestinian village of Beita since 2020. Seventeen Palestinians have been killed while demonstrating against construction of illegal Israeli outposts on the village’s land. While we deplore each of these deaths, Aysenur was the first American killed in Beita, and our government has an obligation to act on her behalf.

Our country and the international community must ensure that the Government of Israel is

held accountable for Aysenur’s killing. In the cases of other Americans killed by the Israeli military, including in our daughter Rachel’s case, the U.S. Government has been unable, or unwilling, to hold those responsible to account. We need to do better this time.

Many individuals currently in US government were kind, helpful, and supportive of our family’s efforts on behalf of Rachel. Prior to becoming Secretary of State, Antony Blinken was active in seeking accountability for her killing. We understand he was even more involved in the case of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. But years have passed and there has been no accountability for either of these killings. While serving at the Department of State in 2003, Dr. Bill Burns, now Director of the CIA, engaged with Rachel’s case and encouraged our family’s first visit to Gaza. U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Congressman Adam Smith, all from Washington State, worked with our family toward accountability for over a decade. While helpful with private statements and diplomatic communications with the Israeli Government, these individual efforts never had the full force of the U.S. Government behind them. Therefore, the ultimate goals of a credible investigation and accountability were never met. These public officials do have unique experience, influence, and power to hold Israel accountable - if they are willing to use it.

Aysenur and her family deserve better than White House and Department of State platitudes and calls for Israeli investigations that never result in truth, action, or enforcement of U.S. law. We are demanding more. The time for accountability is now.

Cindy and Craig Corrie

Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice

Read the International Solidarity Movement's Report of the incident in which Aysenur was killed, a statement from her family, and about the Palestinian village of Beita here.

Listen to an eyewitness account from Israeli activist Jonathan Pollock.

Take Action With Washington for Peace & Justice Here!

PEACE VIGILS EVERY FRIDAY

4:30-6:00 PM

Percival Landing in Downtown Olympia

4th &Water Street

As Israel continues its genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, join us every Friday in downtown Olympia as we gather to call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to occupation, saving Gaza's children, and for peace.

Thank you to everyone for continuing to respect the peaceful and welcoming atmosphere that the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) has maintained at these weekly vigils for decades. Bring your own signs or use ours.

TAKE ACTION FOR PALESTINE!

Contact Your Elected Officials!

We must keep up the pressure.

For information and regular updates from the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, go to https://www.ochaopt.org/.

CONTINUE CALLS AND EMAILS TO THE WHITE HOUSE, emphasizing the need for a permanent and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, unfettered access to aid for Gaza,

Call or write now! Your elected officials need to hear from you.

• Demand a permanent ceasefire.

• Demand release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and of Palestinian prisoners illegally held by Israel.

• Demand that no further funding be provided for Israel's bombing, commission of war crimes, and actions against civilians in Gaza.

• Demand protection for the civilians of Gaza and the West Bank, for whom Israel holds responsibility - as stipulated by the Fourth Geneva Convention.

• Demand that humanitarian and life-saving aid needed by the civilian population of Gaza is provided and accessible.

In the U.S., look up your Senators and Representative here and write your own message.

If you are residents of Washington State, the D.C. phone numbers

for Senators Cantwell and Murray are below:

(202) 224-3441(Cantwell)

(202) 224-2621(Murray)

For those in Olympia, our representative is Marilyn Strickland.

Her D.C. phone number is (202) 225-9740.

Email Rep. Strickland here.

Your support makes our work possible!

The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations by check can be mailed to the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice, 203 East 4th Ave, Suite 402, Olympia, WA 98501.