Tragic Incident Unfolds: U.S. Airman Dies After Setting Himself on Fire in Protest Outside Israeli Embassy
Washington, DC – In a distressing turn of events, a 25-year-old active-duty member of the US Air Force, identified as Aaron Bushnell from San Antonio, Texas, passed away after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy on Sunday. The incident, captured in a video obtained by CNN, showed Bushnell expressing his opposition to what he termed as “genocide” and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In the video, Bushnell asserted that he could no longer be complicit in the situation, emphasizing the suffering of Palestinians. He proceeded to douse himself with an unidentified liquid and ignited it while chanting “Free Palestine.” Swift intervention by police officers with fire extinguishers followed as Bushnell collapsed in flames.
Following the incident around 1 p.m. in northwest Washington, DC Fire and emergency services transported Bushnell to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The Metropolitan Police Department, in collaboration with the US Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is actively investigating the incident.
Confirmation of Bushnell’s identity came from the MPD, with Rose Riley, a spokesperson for the US Air Force, verifying his status as an active-duty airman. The Air Force announced that additional details would be provided once notifications to next of kin were completed.
The Israeli Embassy reported no injuries among its staff during the incident. This unfortunate event echoes a similar incident in December when an individual set themselves on fire outside the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta, described by police as a probable act of extreme political protest.
Amidst these incidents, tensions remain high as Israel continues its military operations against Hamas in Gaza, citing terror attacks on October 7 that resulted in the death of 1,200 people in Israel. In response, the conflict has claimed nearly 30,000 lives in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. Investigations into the motivations and circumstances surrounding such acts of protest are ongoing.