ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on the Death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi
ICYMI: Murray, Jayapal Among Lawmakers Requesting Answers from State Department on Death of U.S.-Turkish Citizen Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, Fatally Shot by an Israeli Soldier in the West Bank
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and a group of bicameral lawmakers in demanding answers from U.S. Department of State Secretary Marco Rubio about two violent attacks on American citizens. Their inquiry comes after the Trump Administration has repeatedly failed to answer lawmakers’ questions regarding the fatal shooting of American-Turkish citizen—and University of Washington graduate—Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank in September 2024, and a targeted attack on international journalists, including an American citizen, in southern Lebanon by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in October 2023. Senator Murray joined her colleagues in a separate letter earlier this year demanding answers on the fatal shooting of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi.
“We are not aware that DOJ is investigating either of these shootings of American citizens. We continue to believe that DOJ should conduct a thorough investigation of these terrible incidents and that those responsible should be held accountable,” the lawmakers wrote. “In the meantime, the Israel Defense Forces ‘investigated’ itself. They did not interview any of the victims or witnesses and, as far as we are aware, closed their investigations without taking any action.”
“We agree that the Department of State’s highest priority is the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. The Department does not meet that duty when it accepts a foreign military’s perfunctory ‘investigation’ of a targeted attack against an American by its armed personnel,” continued the lawmakers. “Answering our questions about the killing of Ms. Eygi does not require the Department of State to conduct its own investigation. The information requested is either currently known to the Department or not known to the Department and obtainable from the relevant Israeli authorities. We therefore again request answers to each of our questions at the earliest possible time.”
Senators joining the letter in addition to Murray and Welch include Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA). U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (D, TX-20), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Jim McGovern (D, MA-02), Becca Balint (D, VT-AL), Delia Ramirez (D, IL-03), and Sara Jacobs (D, CA-51) also signed the letter.
The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
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