Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty member of the United States Air Force set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, on Sunday, according to the Air Force and local officials.
Who is Aaron Bushnell?
Aaron Bushnell was captured on video saying, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide” before setting himself on fire. The incident took place around 1:00 p.m. on the 3500 block of International Drive, NW. The Metropolitan Police Department responded to assist the United States Secret Service after the individual set himself on fire.
The man was quickly extinguished by Secret Service officers before being transported in critical condition to a local hospital by DC Fire and EMS. The Israeli Embassy confirmed that no staff members were injured in the incident.
Authorities are investigating the incident, which occurred during ongoing protests against the war in Gaza. The war has sparked pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests in the United States.
This incident is similar to one that occurred in December when a person set themselves on fire outside the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta as a form of political protest.
Israel is currently fighting Hamas in Gaza after the Palestinian Islamist group launched a series of attacks. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel and took 253 hostages in a cross-border attack on October 7. In response, Israeli forces launched a military campaign in Gaza, killing nearly 30,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.