‘Free Palestine’: US Air Force Member in Critical Condition After Setting Himself on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Washington
A US Air Force member is in a critical state after he allegedly set himself ablaze outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, on Sunday afternoon.
The serviceman approached the embassy around 1pm, began a livestream on Twitch, and then set himself on fire after dousing himself with an accelerant.
In the video, he said, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide [in Gaza]. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest,” before igniting himself and vociferously chanting “Free Palestine!”
This disturbing video was later removed from the streaming platform as it breached the app’s policies.
The individual’s name, which he provided in the video and remains undisclosed publicly, aligns with that of an active-duty Air Force officer from Texas, detailed in a LinkedIn profile, as per the Times. A spokesperson from the Air Force acknowledged the individual as an active-duty airman, although his identity remains unconfirmed.
Both the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and DC Fire and EMS refrained from commenting on the matter.
The Metropolitan Police Department responded to the emergency alongside the US Secret Service, and their bomb squad inspected a suspicious vehicle near the scene. They confirmed that no hazardous materials were found.
The Israeli embassy has been a focal point for ongoing demonstrations against the conflict in Gaza. In the United States, the conflict has sparked both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli rallies. These protests initiated following the events of October 7, when Hamas, the governing Palestinian Islamist faction in Gaza, executed a cross-border raid, resulting in 1,200 Israeli fatalities and the abduction of 253 individuals.
Subsequently, Israeli military forces have engaged in extensive operations against Gaza, causing significant destruction and resulting in nearly 30,000 fatalities, as reported by officials from the Palestinian health sector.
In a related incident, a protester self-immolated in front of the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta during December.
