Air Force Member Sets Himself Ablaze in Protest at Israeli Embassy: Tragic Incident Unfolds

“Aaron Bushnell, 25, was rushed to the hospital after Secret Service officers extinguished flames surrounding him.

Before igniting himself in what he termed an “extreme act of protest,” he expressed his refusal to be complicit in what he described as genocide.

Fortunately, no embassy staff members sustained injuries during the incident, according to a spokeswoman.

A Pentagon spokesman labeled the event, which occurred at 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT), as a “tragic occurrence.”

In a live video broadcast on the streaming platform Twitch, Mr. Bushnell donned military attire and identified himself as a serving member of the Air Force.

Prior to this, he had sent emails to several reporters. In the email, he stated his intention to engage in an extreme protest against what he referred to as the genocide of the Palestinian people, cautioning that the content would be highly disturbing.

Mr. Bushnell was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the scene due to concerns about a suspicious vehicle possibly linked to the individual. Following the absence of hazardous materials, the area was deemed safe.

Washington police stated they are collaborating with the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the incident.

Mr. Bushnell, originally from San Antonio, Texas, was raised in Massachusetts and attended public schools on the Cape Cod peninsula, according to a statement from a local school district.

While the Air Force refrained from confirming specifics about Mr. Bushnell’s service, citing family notification protocols, Stars and Stripes, a military publication, reported that he held the rank of senior airman.

On his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Bushnell indicated that he graduated from Air Force basic training at the top of his class in November 2020 and expressed aspirations to transition from the US Air Force to a career in software engineering.

The Israel-Gaza conflict erupted on 7 October last year when Hamas militants breached southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and the abduction of 253 individuals.

In response, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza, during which approximately 29,300 casualties have been reported, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

As of mid-January, the UN reported that 1.9 million civilians in Gaza have been displaced due to Israel’s military actions, constituting 85% of the population.

During an interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the offensive, asserting that America would take more significant action if faced with a similar attack.

This incident is not the first instance of self-immolation in front of an Israeli diplomatic mission in the US since the escalation of the conflict.

In December, a protester set themselves on fire outside the Israeli consulate in the US state of Georgia, with a Palestinian flag discovered at the scene as part of the demonstration, according to police reports.”