In a shocking act of protest against Israel's military actions in Gaza, an active-duty member of the United States Air Force set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC.
The incident occurred on Sunday just before 1 pm, the man whose name has been withheld by the authority, live-streamed the event on Twitch, dressed in military fatigues, declaring he would not be complicit in what he termed as "genocide."
The graphic footage, now removed from Twitch, captured the airman dousing himself in a flammable substance before igniting it, all the while shouting "Free Palestine!" The United States Secret Service had already extinguished the flames upon the arrival of emergency responders. The victim was rushed to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries.
Local police, investigating the incident, also responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle near the scene. An explosive ordnance disposal unit was called in, although no hazardous materials were ultimately found. The Israeli embassy confirmed that none of its staff members were injured, and all personnel are safe.
This tragic event follows a series of protests against the Israeli embassy in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The tensions escalated after an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, resulting in the death of 1,200 Israelis and the seizure of 253 hostages.
In retaliation, Israeli forces launched a military campaign in Gaza, leading to significant destruction and a reported death toll of nearly 30,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
This incident echoes a similar act of protest in December when a demonstrator set herself on fire outside the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta. The act was described as an "extreme political protest," and a Palestinian flag was found at the scene.