An American activist is killed during a protest against a settlement outpost in the West Bank. The US government is shocked – and has questions for Israel.
The White House has called on Israel to investigate the death of a US activist in the West Bank. “We have reached out to the Israeli government to request more information and an investigation into the incident,” said US President Joe Biden’s spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. They were “deeply shocked by the tragic death.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “Let us first find out exactly what happened and we will draw the necessary conclusions and consequences.”
According to Palestinian sources, the American woman of Turkish origin was shot dead by Israeli soldiers during a protest against a settlement outpost. She was initially taken to a hospital with life-threatening head injuries, the Health Ministry in Ramallah said. She was later declared dead.
Israel’s army said it was investigating the report. There had been “violent activity” in the area. Israeli forces fired at the person who had primarily instigated it. The person had thrown stones and threatened Israeli security forces, the military said in a statement. It was initially unclear whether this was the American woman.