Washington and Ankara condemn killing of American activist of Turkish origin by Israeli army

A 26-year-old American activist of Turkish origin was killed by Israeli army gunfire during protests against settlement expansion in Nablus. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller and US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew condemned the incident.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry and Hamas also condemned the murder and called for accountability before international courts. This comes as the Israeli army withdraws from Jenin following a large-scale military operation in the West Bank.

Advocates are demanding justice for the killing, with comparisons being drawn to the reaction towards the killing of an American hostage by Hamas. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have condemned the incident, with Blinken stating that the US will respond if necessary.

At least 661 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, while 23 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks. The White House has called for an investigation into the killing and Turkey's Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel's actions as 'barbaric'.