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New York Post
US Air Force member who set himself on fire at Israeli Embassy in shocking scene while yelling ‘Free Palestine’ is identified
By Olivia Land, David Propper,
2024-02-25
A member of the US Air Force is in critical condition after reportedly setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, Sunday afternoon.
A video livestreamed on Twitch appears to show the airman in uniform standing in front of the embassy gate and identifying himself as a member of the US Air Force, the New York Times and Washington Post reported.
“I will no longer be complicit in genocide [in Gaza]. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest,” the man apparently says before setting himself alight and repeatedly shouting, “Free Palestine!”
The man says his name is Aaron Bushnell at the start of the clip, according to footage circulating online. A spokesperson for the Air Force confirmed that the protester is an active-duty airman, though they would not discuss his identity or rank.
Authorities at the scene can be heard asking, “May I help you, sir?” and yelling at the man to get down on the ground when he was on fire, the footage shows.
One person sprayed the man with a fire extinguisher, while another appeared to draw his gun.
The troubling footage was quickly removed on Sunday afternoon because it violated the streaming app’s guidelines. But recordings of it — some blurred — made their way onto other social media platforms.
The airman was not known to the embassy before the incident, the statement added.
He was still alive in critical condition as of 3 p.m. Sunday, according to MPD. Emails to the police department and Air Force about his condition were not immediately returned Sunday night.
The Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating alongside MPD.
Earlier footage shows more fire trucks and a hazmat crew arriving to inspect the man’s car, freelance reporter Andrew Leyden shared on X.
It’s not the first instance of the extreme method of protest against Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
In December, a protester set herself on fire outside Atlanta’s Israeli Consulate.
The self-immolations come after months of intense political tensions over Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and Israel’s subsequent ground operations in the Gaza Strip.
The death toll in Gaza has reached nearly 30,000 people, including thousands of women and children, the Hamas-backed health ministry said. More than 200 Israeli soldiers have also died during the military’s ground campaign.
Rafah is now the most densely populated Gaza city after Palestinians were forced to flee the Israeli military’s assault in the north.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org .
With Post wires
For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.
They are moving cartel members into the United States
Vets Against Zionism
02-26
This man set himself on fire, and screamed while burning to death, for the freedom of Palestine -- and the fact that people remain untouched, and even scandalize that he dared put a mirror in front of the hypocrisy, and wickedness of the world, is an indelible symptom of our collective doom -- because they can't understand, neither the pain of burning, nor the decision to burn for the pain of others, precisely because you can't do anything to stop it.
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