A member of the US air force tragically died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, expressing that he would “no longer be complicit in genocide” while shouting “Free Palestine.” The individual, identified as 25-year-old airman Aaron Bushnell from San Antonio, Texas, was involved in the incident on International Drive around 1 pm on Sunday, prompting a response from the Metropolitan Police Department to assist the Secret Service.
In a disturbing video posted online, Bushnell, clad in a uniform, can be seen burning while declaring his stance and identity as an active air force member. He was ablaze for approximately a minute before law enforcement extinguished the fire. Bushnell reportedly approached the embassy and livestreamed the event on Twitch, a video streaming platform, before immolating himself, expressing his refusal to be complicit in genocide.
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While confirming Bushnell’s status as an active member of the air force, no further details were provided by an air force spokesperson. The Israeli embassy stated that none of its staff were harmed in the incident, and Bushnell was unknown to them.
On Monday, a Facebook post attributed to Bushnell circulated on Twitter, echoing sentiments about contemporary societal injustices and urging action against them. Meanwhile, law enforcement investigated a suspicious vehicle possibly linked to the individual, with an explosive ordnance disposal unit called to the scene, although no hazardous material was discovered.
The Israeli embassy has been a focal point for pro-Palestinian protests calling for a ceasefire amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has claimed numerous lives. The situation has escalated tensions, with Palestinian casualties increasing, particularly among women and children, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health service.
This incident recalls a similar event in December of the previous year, when a protester set themselves on fire outside an Israeli consulate office in Atlanta, resulting in hospitalizations for the protester and a guard due to burns.
