On Sunday (25th) a tragedy shook the North American capital. Aaron Bushnell, a 25yearold US Air Force soldier, set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington. Authorities confirmed that the young man from San Antonio, Texas, succumbed to his injuries and died.
An extreme protest in defense of Palestine
In a video obtained by CNN, Bushnell expresses his opposition to the U.S. role in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. “I will no longer be an accomplice to genocide,” the soldier said, stressing that their suffering is minimal compared to that of the Palestinians as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues. According to his statements, he pours liquid over himself and sets himself on fire while repeatedly shouting: “Liberate Palestine.”
Actions taken by authorities and confirmation of death
Bushnell passed out amid the flames while officers tried to control the fire with fire extinguishers. After he was quickly transported to a local hospital by the Washington Fire Department, his death was later confirmed by city police.
The young man's identity has been confirmed by the Metropolitan Police Department (DPM) and the case is being investigated jointly with the US Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Rose Riley, a U.S. Air Force spokeswoman, confirmed that Bushnell was an activeduty soldier.
Situation in the Israeli embassy
According to an Israeli Embassy spokesman, no one was injured in the incident. Still, it is important to remember that this is not the first case of selfimmolation against Israeli missions in the United States. Last December, a person set himself on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta in what police described as an “extreme political protest.”
The incident came amid heightened tensions between Israel and Palestine. Israel is waging war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in response to attacks by the group on October 7 that killed 1,200 people in Israel, according to Israeli authorities. In the Gaza Strip, however, almost 30,000 people were killed, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. This content has been translated from the original English.