US airman sets himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in Washington (Video)

An active-duty member of the US Air Force, Aaron Bushnell, set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, on Sunday, as confirmed by both the Air Force and local authorities. According to sources close to the family, relayed to reporter Tania Jane, Bushnell succumbed to his injuries.

Prior to the self-immolation, Bushnell was recorded uttering, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide.” The tragic incident unfolded around 1:00 p.m. on the 3500 block of International Drive, NW. The Metropolitan Police Department responded alongside the United States Secret Service after Bushnell ignited himself.

Bushnell, identified as a client systems technician in IT management and a DevOps engineer, had been serving in the Air Force since 2020. His LinkedIn profile revealed ongoing pursuits, including a Bachelor of Science in software engineering at Southern New Hampshire University and exploration of SkillBridge programs to transition his expertise into the software engineering domain. At the time of the event, Bushnell, clad in fatigues, was stationed in San Antonio, Texas.

Preceding his intended act of protest, Bushnell reportedly conveyed a message to media outlets, stating, “Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people.” Allegedly, he streamed the act live on Twitch, although the video was subsequently removed for guideline violations.

As he approached the embassy, Bushnell reiterated his stance, declaring, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide.” He lamented the plight of Palestinians, asserting that his actions, while extreme, pale in comparison to their suffering under colonization.

Following the ignition, Secret Service officers promptly intervened to extinguish the flames. Bushnell was rushed to a local hospital by DC Fire and EMS in critical condition, ultimately succumbing to his injuries. The Israeli Embassy confirmed that none of its staff were harmed during the incident.

The authorities are conducting an investigation into the matter, which occurs amidst ongoing protests against the conflict in Gaza, inciting both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations across the United States.

The current military campaign in Gaza by Israel, prompted by attacks from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, has escalated tensions. According to Israeli sources, Hamas instigated violence by killing 1,200 individuals in Israel and taking 253 hostages in a cross-border assault on October 7. In response, Israeli forces launched operations in Gaza, resulting in nearly 30,000 casualties, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.