Biden says he's 'outraged' by US activist's West Bank death after pushback on earlier remarks

President Biden on Wednesday said he is "outraged and deeply saddened" by Israel's “totally unacceptable” killing of an American activist in the West Bank, adding that there must be “full accountability” one day after suggesting her death was an accident.

Biden in a statement condemned the shooting of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old from Seattle who was participating in a demonstration in the West Bank when an Israeli soldier shot and killed her.

“Israel has acknowledged its responsibility for Aysenur’s death, and a preliminary investigation has indicated that it was the result of a tragic error resulting from an unnecessary escalation,” Biden said. “The U.S. government has had full access to Israel’s preliminary investigation, and expects continued access as the investigation continues, so that we can have confidence in the result.”

Biden said his administration would remain in contact with Israeli and Palestinian officials regarding the investigation.

“There must be full accountability,” he said. “And Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again. 

“The violence in the West Bank has been going on for too long. Violent extremist Israeli settlers are uprooting Palestinians from their homes,” Biden continued. “Palestinian terrorists are sending car bombs to kill civilians. I will continue to support policies that hold all extremists — Israelis and Palestinians alike – accountable for stoking violence and serving as obstacles to peace.”

Biden told reporters as he departed the White House on Tuesday that he was finding out more details about Eygi’s death, but “apparently it was an accident, ricocheted off the ground and got hit by accident. I’m working that out now.”

The Associated Press reported that the doctors who treated Eygi, who also had Turkish citizenship, said she was shot in the head.

Hamid Ali, the partner of Eygi, said in a Tuesday statement that they had not heard from Biden or his White House in the days since the incident.

“This was no accident, and her killers must be held accountable,” Ali said.

Biden has faced intense criticism from Republicans and some Democrats over his handling of Israel’s war with Hamas, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza dead. The war started after attacks on Oct. 7 by Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis.

The president has repeatedly said Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas, but has also indicated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not being helpful in efforts to end the war.