Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was born on July 1998 in Antalya. The Eygi family moved to America when Ayşenur was still a child. Ayşenur began her education at West Seattle High School in USA and later studied psychology at the University of Washington. During her second year, Ayşenur decided to minor in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and graduated from university in June 2024.

Ayşenur emerged as a socially conscious and active individual throughout her academic life, serving as a peer mentor at the University of Washington and working as a content creator for the “Visit Seattle” page. Her deep commitment to service laid a foundation for her work in mentoring, trauma therapy, and marketing like. She participated in various volunteer initiatives and took part in events at both local and international levels.

Ayşenur volunteered with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and peacefully opposed illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West West Bank. On 6 September 2024, while participating in a protest in the Beita region of the West Bank to support Palestinian farmers and local communities, she was shot in the head by Israeli military forces and seriously injured. Ayşenur was taken to a hospital in the West Bank but died despite all medical efforts. Eygi’s death sparked widespread echo internationally and drew strong reactions from numerous human rights advocates.

When Ayşenur informed her family of her decision to travel to the West Bank, her father Mehmet Suat Eygi tried to persuade her not to go to such a dangerous area. However, despite all his warnings, Ayşenur remained determined to go. She told her father, “If my death can serve a purpose, I am ready father,” choosing to go to expose the injustice in Palestine. Mehmet Suat Eygi described this moment in tears: “I told her, ‘You are going to a place where people know how to kill very well, do not go.’ She replied, ‘I must go, father, people need to hear what is happening there.’ I said, ‘What if a bullet comes, or if a bullet kills you?’ She answered, ‘If my death can serve a purpose, I am ready, father.’”

Ayşenur stood as a defender of justice throughout her life. She raised her voice against human rights violations in many countries and across diverse geographies, resisting all forms of injustice. In her final journey to Palestine, she demonstrated immense courage to uphold this stance.

A letter left at Ayşenur’s mourning home deeply affected her father. The letter stated that other young women wished to follow in Ayşenur’s footsteps. Her father said, “I cried uncontrollably as I read it because there are girls who want to follow in Ayşenur’s path,” emphasizing how profoundly inspiring his daughter’s life had been.

Ayşenur’s funeral was held on 14 September 2024 in Didim district of Aydın province, where she was laid to rest. Her peaceful struggle and unwavering determination to defend the rights of the Palestinian people will continue to inspire countless individuals across world. Ayşenur was not merely a student or activist; she was a courageous warrior for human rights and social justice. Her legacy will live on not only in the cause of Palestine but as a symbol of justice and peace throughout the world.

Following Ayşenur’s death, her family and close relatives called on U.S. Congress members and urged for an investigation into the responsibility of Israeli soldiers for independent. Many members of Congress affirmed their commitment to pursuing justice for Ayşenur, stating that the U.S. administration must take concrete steps in response to her killing.

Ayşenur was simultaneously a psychology student and an active human rights advocate supporting the Palestinian people through organizations such as the International Solidarity Movement. She was the third American citizen to be killed by the Israeli Defense Forces, following Rachel Corrie, who died in 2003, and Tom Hurndall, who was killed in 2004.