What we’ve accomplished together.
Accountability doesn’t happen overnight. We’re documenting everything that has been done, what has not, and where we stand today. This is a living document of the response to Ayșenur’s killing.
103
Members of Congress signed letters70+
WA State and local officials signed3
International courts engaged0
Meaningful actions taken by the U.S. governmentFEDERAL - CONGRESSIONAL LETTERS & STATEMENTS
Sep. 11, 2024
Joint WA Senate letter
Murray and Jayapal write to Biden and Blinken
Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Pramila Jayapal called for an immediate, transparent, and thorough FBI-led investigation into Ayșenur’s killing, the first formal bicameral demand from Washington’s delegation.
Sep. 11, 2024
Senate letter
Sen. Maria Cantwell sends separate letter
Sen. Cantwell separately urged President Biden and Secretary Blinken for an independent U.S. review into Ayșenur’s killing.
Sep. 13, 2024
Senate statement
Sen. Bernie Sanders calls for DOJ/FBI investigation
Sanders released a formal statement calling on the U.S. Justice Department to open independent investigations into Ayșenur’s killing and the broader pattern of attacks on American citizens by Israeli security forces.
Sep. 24, 2024
103-member bicameral letter
Rep. Adam Smith leads 103-member House bicameral letter
Rep. Smith’s letter - cosigned by 102 colleagues - urged the White House, State Department, and DOJ to independently investigate whether Ayșenur’s killing constituted a homicide. Both Washington senators and six of the state’s ten House members signed on. Ten senators signed, including Sanders, Peter Welch, and Van Hollen.
Fall 2025
Bicameral letter
Welch-led bicameral group demands State Department answers
Sen. Peter Welch led a bicameral group, including Senators Sanders, Murray, and Merkley, and Representatives Jayapal, Jim McGovern, Sara Jacobs, and Joaquin Castro, in formally requesting answers from the State Department on the circumstances of the shooting.
FEDERAL - EXECUTIVE BRANCH MEETINGS & ACTIONS
Oct. 21, 2024
DOJ lawyers’ internal letter
DOJ lawyers’ internal letter to Garland
A group of Justice Department attorneys wrote a four-page letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling out a “glaring gap” in the department’s enforcement: despite credible evidence of violations of U.S. law, and in contrast to the DOJ’s public stance on Russian and Hamas crimes, the department had taken no public steps to investigate the killings of U.S. citizens by Israeli forces, explicitly naming Ayșenur.
Dec. 16, 2024
Meeting
Family meets with Secretary of State Blinken
Ayșenur’s father, sister Ozden Bennett, and husband Hamid Ali met directly with Secretary Blinken at the State Department to demand an independent criminal investigation. The family left the meeting with little confidence the U.S. would pursue accountability.
Dec. 16-17 2024
Vigil & press conference
White House vigil & Capitol Hill press conference
The family held a public vigil outside the White House at Lafayette Square alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and held a press conference at the Capitol the following day, marking 100 days since Ayșenur’s killing with zero accountability.
Sept. 2025
Capitol Hill press conference
Multi-family Capitol Hill event
Rep. Jayapal hosted a Capitol Hill press conference with families of multiple Americans killed by Israeli forces, including Ayșenur’s family alongside the Corrie family and others. This was a historic event of families coming together who have been impacted by the impunity the U.S. government grants Israel in the killing of American citizens.
WASHINGTON STATE - LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Sep. 13, 2024
State and local letter
70+ Washington state & local officials sign letter
Over 70 elected officials signed a joint letter demanding an independent U.S. inquiry - including 25 state House members, 13 state senators, eight county council members from King, Pierce, and Whatcom Counties, 14 city council members, and State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti.
Apr. 23, 2025
Resolution passed
WA State House adopts HR 4661 honoring Ayșenur’s life
The Washington State House formally adopted House Resolution 4661, recognizing Ayșenur’s life and activism. Her family attended the reading in Olympia and spoke at a press conference. Cindy & Craig Corrie, as well as CAIR-WA also spoke in solidarity. The celebration was attended by local community members, and members of the WA House.
January 2026
2026 session bills
SJM 8014 & HJM 4010 introduced - Senate hearing held
Sen. Saldana introduced SJM8014 and Rep. Chipalo Street introduced companion bill HJM4010 in the 2026 legislative session, both calling for a federal independent investigation. A public hearing was held January 22 in the Senate Law and Justice Committee. SJM8014 passed the Senate, but Republicans blocked it in the House chambers, killing the bill.
INTERNATIONAL - RESPONSES & INTERNATIONAL COURTS
Sep. 13, 2024
Criminal charges filed
Turkey files “premeditated murder” charges
Turkey’s Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau classified the killing as a “crime against humanity” and filed premeditated murder charges against the Israeli soldiers involved. Evidence submitted included eyewitness statements, photos, video footage, and an autopsy report.
Sep. 15, 2024
ICC complaint
Palestinian Authority invokes the ICC
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas personally called Ayșenur’s father and pledged to file a complaint with the International Criminal Courts over her killing.
Sep. 23, 2024
UN/ICJ/ICC
Turkey submits evidence to UN, ICJ, ICC
Turkey’s Justice Minister announced the government would bring Ayșenur’s case to the UN Security Council’s agenda, submit evidence to the International Criminal Court of Justice, and add evidence to the ongoing ICC investigation into Israeli forces.
Nov. 4, 2024
UN Special Rapporteur
The Special Rapporteur sent formal communications
The Special Rapporteur and other UN experts sent a formal joint communication to the Government of Israel, finding Ayșenur’s killing constitutes a prima facie violation of the absolute right to life under international law. Israel was given 60 days to respond and did not reply. The rapporteurs called on Israel to conduct an independent, impartial, transparent, and thorough investigation and prosecute those responsible.
COMMUNITY & MEDIA
Sep. 7, 2024
March
Hundreds march through Pike Place Market, Seattle
The day after her killing, hundreds of community members marched through Pike Place Market calling for justice for Ayșenur.
Sep. 11, 2024
Vigil
Community vigil at Alki Beach, West Seattle
Hundreds gathered at Alki Beach, near where Ayșenur grew up, to mourn and call for accountability in her killing.
Sep. 11, 2024
Investigative journalism
Washington Post investigation contradicts IDF account
An independent Washington Post inquiry, interviewing 13 eyewitnesses and reviewing 50+ videos and photos, established that Ayșenur was shot more than 30 minutes after the demonstration had dispersed, approximately 230 yards from Israeli forces, directly contradicting the Israeli military’s narrative.