US Air Force serviceman sets himself on fire in front of Israel embassy in Washington DC

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed the man was an active duty airman.

Emily Williams | February 26, 2024, 04:49 PM

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A U.S. Air Force serviceman set himself on fire in front of Washington D.C.'s Israeli embassy, reported the New York Times.

On Feb. 25, Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty airman, walked up to the gates of the Israeli embassy and lit himself on fire.

Bushnell's act of protest was related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

A U.S. Air Force spokesperson confirmed on Feb. 25 that the man was an active-duty airman, according to NYT.

A video posted on streaming platform Twitch, which has since been removed, allegedly depicted the incident.

An independent journalist named Talia Jane has since posted a blurred version of the protest on X (formerly known as Twitter), reportedly with the permission of Bushnell's loved ones.

"I will no longer be complicit in genocide"

In the video, he identified himself as "Aaron Bushnell...an active-duty member of the United States Air Force" as he walked towards the driveway of the embassy in Washington D.C.

Speaking to the camera, he said he would "no longer be complicit in genocide" and that he was going to do an "extreme act of protest".

He was then seen dousing himself in liquid from a water bottle, while officers asked: "Hi, sir, can I help you?"

Then, the man set himself alight whilst repeatedly yelling "Free Palestine".

The officers could be heard calling for fire extinguishers.

Allegedly succumbed to injuries

Emergency services told Washington Post that Bushnell was taken to hospital in a "life-threatening" condition.

He has since allegedly succumbed to his injuries, according to Jane. However, other media did not confirm whether Bushnell had died.

This is the second act of self-immolation in front of an Israeli embassy in the U.S. since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Top images from @revmahoney/X and @taliaotg/X