US Air Force Pilot Set Himself on Fire outside Israel Embassy to Protest Against War in Gaza

SEAToday.com, Washington - A United States (US) Air Force (AU) pilot died after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington on Sunday at 13.00 local time.

According to BBC News, the man was identified by police as Aaron Bushnell, who is an active soldier in the US Air Force.
The military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that Bushnell held the rank of senior airman.

The New York Times reports that US Secret Service officers were dispatched to extinguish the fire. Bushnell was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition Sunday afternoon.

The senior pilot is known to have recorded and broadcast his actions live on the social media platform Twitch.

“I will no longer be involved in genocide,” Bushnell said in the video wearing his military uniform.
"I will carry out extreme protests," he said again.

Then he set himself on fire while shouting "Free Palestine!" until he fell to the ground.

A bomb squad unit was sent to the scene due to concerns that a vehicle may have been connected.

Sean Hickman, a police spokesman, said the scene was clear as of 4 p.m.

An Israeli embassy spokesperson confirmed that no embassy staff members were injured.

Protests against Israel don't just happen once. It is known that in December a protester set himself on fire in front of the Israeli consulate in the US state of Georgia.

Writer: Halimatun Zakiah