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US Secretary of State Blinken Condemns Israeli Forces After Killing of American Activist in West Bank
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has called for “fundamental changes” in how Israeli forces operate in the occupied West Bank, following the killing of American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi during a protest. Blinken’s criticism came after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that it was “highly likely” Eygi was “hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire” during a demonstration.
Eygi, a 26-year-old US citizen and recent graduate of the University of Washington, was participating in a weekly protest against an Israeli settlement near the Palestinian village of Beita when she was shot. The IDF claims its fire was aimed at an unidentified “key instigator” of a “violent riot” involving rock-throwing and tire burning by Palestinians. Eygi, who was volunteering with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement (ISM), died from her injuries.
At a press conference in London, Blinken condemned the killing as “unprovoked and unjustified” and demanded changes to the Israeli forces’ rules of engagement. “No one should be shot and killed for attending a protest,” he said. “Now we have the second American citizen killed at the hands of Israeli security forces. It’s not acceptable. It has to change.”
Blinken also highlighted broader concerns, pointing to “longstanding reports” of Israeli forces failing to prevent settler violence against Palestinians and using excessive force in the West Bank. Eygi’s death is the latest incident in escalating violence in the region, where Israeli raids and settler attacks have intensified since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in Gaza.
Eygi’s family has demanded an independent investigation into her death, criticizing Israel’s internal probe as inadequate. The IDF has launched an inquiry through its Military Police Criminal Investigation Division, which will be reviewed by the Military Advocate General’s Corps.
The incident has further strained US-Israel relations, with Washington recently unveiling sanctions targeting Israeli settler violence against Palestinians. Eygi’s killing has drawn comparisons to the 2003 death of Rachel Corrie, another American ISM activist, killed while trying to stop an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza.
As tensions continue, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Israeli forces and settlers have killed 692 Palestinians, including 158 children, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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