Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

US Air Force Serviceman Sets himself on Fire Outside Israeli embassy, in Protest Against the US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip

February 26, 2024

 

The Washington DC location were a US air force service member set himself on fire, in protest against US-Backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, February 25, 2024	A US air force serviceman set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy, in protest against the US-Backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, February 25, 2024

US Martyr of Palestine: US air force service member, Aaron Bushnell, set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, in protest against the US-Backed Israeli genocidal war on the Palestinian people in Gaza. He shouted "Free Palestine," several time while on fire, on February 25, 2024	US Air Force active duty service member, Aaron Bushnell, died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, in protest against the US-Backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, February 25, 2024

 

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Serving US Air Force member sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in ‘genocide’ protest

Story by Shweta Sharma and Katie Hawkinson 

The Independent, February 26, 2024

Aman who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC on Sunday in an apparent protest against the Gaza war is a serving member of the US Air Force, a spokesperson confirmed.

The US Air Force serviceman suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition at a hospital.

The man filmed his protest and livestreamed the video on social media platform Twitch shortly before 1pm local time on Sunday.

The graphic footage shows him shouting “I will no longer be complicit in genocide” and “I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest” as he stood in front of the embassy gates.

He then kept his phone down to film himself pouring a clear liquid from a metal bottle and setting himself alight. He also shouts “Free Palestine!” before falling to the ground.

Law enforcement officers then approached the man and successfully put out the flames. The fire was extinguished by members of the uniformed division of the US Secret Service, a spokesperson told The Independent.

The video was removed from Twitch as the platform stated that it violated its guidelines. But police said they have obtained and reviewed a copy.

A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the location due to suspicions surrounding a questionable vehicle potentially linked to the individual in question. Officials later cleared the suspicious vehicle and found no hazardous materials inside.

Israeli Airstrikes Bring Chaos and Suffering to Palestinian Women and Children; Aid Needed

The incident comes amid growing protests against Israel across the country as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign since 7 October last year to eradicate Hamas has taken a huge toll on civilian lives in Gaza. Israel’s four-month military operation has devastated the Gaza Strip, with more than 29,000 Palestinians killed according to the local health ministry.

The onslaught that began after an attack by Hamas rebels that killed at least 1,200 people has intensified the humanitarian crisis in the enclave with reports of widespread starvation, disease and exhausted medical resources, prompting international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.

No embassy staff members were hurt in the incident, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington told the New York Times.

A statement issued by the Israeli foreign ministry said that the individual involved was not recognised by embassy staff.

It appeared to be the second instance of self-immolation outside an Israeli mission in a matter of months. A protester set themselves on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, the Associated Press reported in December. Authorities later found a Palestinian flag at the scene.

Serving US Air Force member sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in ‘genocide’ protest | The Independent

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Who Is Aaron Bushnell? US Airman Sets Himself on Fire by Israeli Embassy

Newsweek, Feb 26, 2024 at 2:20 AM

An active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Sunday to protest Israel's war in Gaza, according to reports and video posted on social media.

Aaron Bushnell, 25, of San Antonio, Texas, died after being transported to a local hospital on Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told Newsweek via email.

"My name is Aaron Bushnell, I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force and I will no longer be complicit in genocide," he says in a video of the incident. "I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal."

The video shows Bushnell walk up to the driveway of the Israeli embassy, set his phone down on the ground and pour an unknown liquid from a bottle over himself and ignite it while yelling, "Free Palestine" repeatedly.

Aaron Bushnell shouted "free Palestine" before setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. over the Gaza war.TWITTER

Law enforcement officers are heard screaming at Bushnell to get on the ground. One points a gun at him while he is collapsed on the ground, screaming in pain.

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That officer's gun remains drawn as another sprays him with a fire extinguisher. "I don't need guns, I need fire extinguishers!" one officer is heard yelling as other officers arrive on the scene.

The fire had already been extinguished by the U.S. Secret Service when firefighters arrived at the scene, D.C. Fire and EMS said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The MPD spokesperson said that officers had responded at around 1 p.m. to assist the Secret Service. The department is working with the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the incident, the spokesperson added.

An Air Force spokesperson did not identify Bushnell, but confirmed to Newsweek that the man involved in the incident was an active-duty Airman.

Independent reporter Talia Jane wrote on X that Bushnell's loved ones gave consent for a blurred version of the video to be posted online.

He was described as "the kindest, gentlest, silliest little kid in the Air Force" by Errico, a friend who met him in 2022, according to Jane. "He's always trying to think about how we can actually achieve liberation for all with a smile on his face," Errico said.

A LinkedIn account apparently belonging to Bushnell showed he had been in the Air Force since 2020 and was most recently a DevOps engineer.

The page describes him as an "aspiring software engineer" with "a talent and passion for solving complex problems with code."

It says: "Throughout my time in the military in both leadership and followership roles, as well as prior work experience in a variety of civil roles, I have thrived in team environments and gained very good communication skills."

He was pursuing a bachelor's degree in software engineering at Western Governor's University, according to the page. He previously studied software development at Southern New Hampshire University and computer science at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Bushnell's protest comes as Israel's war on Hamas has killed about 30,000 Palestinians, The Associated Press reported, citing the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Israel declared war following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, in which about 1,200 people were killed. Israel's air and ground offensive has since driven about 80 percent of Gaza's population from their homes.

Who Is Aaron Bushnell? US Airman Sets Himself on Fire by Israeli Embassy (newsweek.com) 

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U.S. Air Force Member Sets Self on Fire Outside Israel’s Embassy in D.C. to Protest War in Gaza

Time, February 26, 2024

An active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, in apparent protest of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which he described as a “genocide.”

DC Fire and EMS (DC FEMS) said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that it responded to an incident outside the embassy at 12:58 p.m. to find the fire extinguished by U.S. Secret Service members. Secret Service spokesperson Joe Routh told TIME in a statement that officers of its uniformed division responded to what appeared as “an individual that was experiencing a possible medical / mental health emergency.”

The burn victim, who identified himself in video of the incident as 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell, reportedly succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night, according to independent journalist Talia Jane, who posted on social media that she is in contact with Bushnell’s family and friends.

DC FEMS initially said an adult male was transported with critical, life-threatening injuries to an area hospital, and authorities have confirmed neither the identity nor updated condition or status of the person when asked by TIME.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said in a post on X that it also investigated a suspicious vehicle near the scene but that no hazardous materials were found. Embassy spokesperson Tal Naim told media outlets that no embassy personnel were injured. Secret Service, MPD, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the incident.

Spokespersons for the U.S. Air Force confirmed to CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post that the man who set himself on fire, prior to his public identification, was an active-duty airman. Defense Department policy states that service members on active duty should “not engage in partisan political activity.” Military regulations also prohibit wearing the uniform during “unofficial public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies or any public demonstration which may imply sanction or endorsement by [the Defense Department] or the Military Service.” 

Bushnell, who was wearing fatigues on Sunday in Washington, was a DevOps engineer based in San Antonio, Texas, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Bushnell reportedly sent a message to media outlets before his planned self-immolation. “​​Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people,” he warned.

On Facebook Sunday morning, he also wrote: “Many of us like to ask ourselves, ‘What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?’ The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” The post included a link to a live-stream of his protest on the web-broadcasting platform Twitch, which has since removed the video for violations of its community guidelines and terms of service.

“I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest,” the airman repeated, in footage reviewed by TIME, as he walked toward the driveway of the Israeli embassy. “But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.”

After Bushnell doused himself with liquid and reached for his lighter, unidentified law enforcement or security officers could be heard asking off-screen, “Can I help you?” After setting himself aflame, he repeatedly shouted “Free Palestine.”

Protests have become commonplace against Israel’s military actions in Gaza as well as against U.S. support for Israel since war broke out after the Oct. 7 assault from Palestinian militant group Hamas that Israeli officials claim killed about 1,200 people. Gaza’s health ministry, overseen by Hamas, has said that Tel Aviv’s bombardment of the enclave has in turn killed some 30,000 people.

Israel’s diplomatic outposts have since become sustained areas of protest against the war in the Middle East, and it is not the first time someone had set themselves on fire outside it.

Self-immolation has a long history as a form of protest, gaining particular prominence during the Vietnam war and in Tunisia during the Arab Spring.

In December, an unidentified person with a Palestinian flag was left in critical condition after they lit themself on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental-health crisis or contemplating suicide, call or text 988. In emergencies, call 911, or seek care from a local hospital or mental health provider.

U.S. Airman Sets Self on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy: Everything We Know So Far | TIME

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A man set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, the police said.

The man, who filmed and livestreamed the protest, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The U.S. Air Force confirmed he was an active-duty airman.

The protester filmed his self-immolation in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington.Credit...Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA, via Shutterstock

By Aishvarya Kavi

reporting from Washington

New York Times, Feb. 25, 2024

A man set himself on fire on Sunday afternoon outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. A U.S. Air Force spokeswoman, Ann Stefanek, confirmed on Sunday night that the man was an active-duty airman.

Officers with the U.S. Secret Service extinguished the fire outside the embassy, in northwestern Washington, around 1 p.m., said Vito Maggiolo, a spokesman with the city’s fire department. The man was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition.

No embassy staff members were injured, and all were accounted for, according to Tal Naim, a spokeswoman for the embassy.

The man appeared to have filmed the protest and livestreamed it on the social media platform Twitch at the time that the police said they responded to the incident. The New York Times could not confirm who was behind the account that posted the video, but the video featured a man walking toward the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

“I will no longer be complicit in genocide,” a man said in the video, echoing language that opponents of Israel’s military action in Gaza have used to describe the campaign. “I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest.”

Standing in front of the embassy gates, he set his phone down to film dousing himself in a clear liquid from a metal bottle. He then lit himself on fire while yelling “Free Palestine!” until he fell to the ground.

The video showed law enforcement officers approaching him shortly before the fire caught. One could be heard off-camera saying: “Can I help you, sir?” The officers then scrambled for more than a minute to put out the flames.

The video was removed on Sunday afternoon and replaced with a message stating that the channel violated Twitch’s guidelines. It was the only video posted to the account, which had a Palestinian flag as its header image.

In the video, the man was dressed in fatigues, and the name he used matched a LinkedIn profile for an active-duty Air Force officer based in Texas. The authorities have not confirmed the identity of the man.

The police also investigated a suspicious vehicle nearby for explosives, but Sean Hickman, a police spokesman, said the scene had been cleared by 4 p.m. Officers with the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had worked with Washington’s explosive ordnance disposal unit to investigate the incident.

Protests against Israel have become a near-daily occurrence across the country since Israel began its campaign in Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that killed at least 1,200 people, according to the Israeli officials. International calls for a humanitarian cease-fire have grown in the past months as the humanitarian crisis has deepened. The embassy has been the site of sustained protests against the war in Gaza as the civilian death toll in the devastated enclave continues to climb, with more than 29,000 dead, according to the local health ministry officials.

Protests have sometimes resulted in arrests but seldom in violence. In December, a protester self-immolated in front of the Israeli consulate in Atlanta in what police said was “likely an extreme act of political protest.”

Aishvarya Kavi is based in the Washington bureau. More about Aishvarya Kavi

Man Sets Himself On Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Washington, Police Say - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

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U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C. has died

NBC News, Feb. 26, 2024, 7:44 AM

 By Courtney Kube and Marlene Lenthang

The U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., in an apparent protest against the Israel-Hamas war has died, according to a U.S. official.

The Air Force said it won’t release the name of the airman until 24 hours after his next of kin are notified. 

The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department responded to a call about a person on fire outside the embassy just before 1 p.m. Sunday. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had been extinguished by members of the Secret Service. 

Dressed in military fatigues, the airman filmed himself yelling “Free Palestine” before collapsing to the ground. 

In a livestream, he called the Israeli crackdown in Gaza "genocide" and said what he was doing was not as extreme as the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Then he put his phone down, doused himself over the head with a liquid from a water bottle, and then set himself ablaze.

The man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, D.C. Fire and EMS said. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed he was active duty.

The embassy said that no staff members were injured. 

The incident comes as the Israel-Hamas war has stretched into its fourth month.

It follows a similar incident in December when a woman set herself on fire outside the Israeli Consulate General building in Atlanta. A Palestinian flag was recovered from the scene and police described the incident as an “extreme political protest.”

There have been multiple protests since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 hostage. Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli military has presented the war Cabinet with a plan for the evacuation of civilians from "fighting areas" in Gaza. It comes as Netanyahu has spoken of a planned ground offensive on Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city along the border with Egypt, where 1 million Palestinians have sought safety.

International figures, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, have warned against a full-scale Israeli assault on Rafah, citing safety concerns over Palestinians seeking refuge there as well as obstruction of the flow of aid.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C. has died (nbcnews.com)