Funeral held in Türkiye for activist killed by Israel in West Bank

Mourners gathered in southwest Türkiye Saturday for the funeral of a U.S.-Turkish activist shot dead while protesting Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The killing last week of 26-year-old Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi has sparked international condemnation and infuriated Türkiye, further escalating tensions over the war in Gaza.

Eygi's body, wrapped in the Turkish flag, arrived at its final resting place in the Aegean town of Didim on Friday following a martyrs' ceremony at Istanbul's airport.

Eygi was a frequent visitor to the seaside resort.

The family wanted Eygi to be buried in Didim, where her grandfather lives and her grandmother has been laid to rest.

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş visited the family of slain Turkish American activist to offer his condolences on their loss.

"Just as the blood of every martyred Palestinian is sacred, Ayşenur Eygi's blood is equally sacred. We will follow her case until the end," Kurtulmuş told her mourning family, relatives and friends.

 The Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş and Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç also visited the family to offer his condolences.

Ankara said this week it was probing her death and pressed the United Nations for an independent inquiry.

Türkiye is also planning to issue international arrest warrants for those responsible for Eygi's death depending on the findings of its investigation.

A large crowd is expected at the funeral, including members of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted AKP party, as well as activists advocating the Palestinian cause.

The burial is scheduled to take place after midday prayers.

  'Seek justice'

The young woman's body arrived in...