US Air Force soldier self-immolates in protest outside Israeli embassy in Washington
Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty member of the United States Air Force, stacked his professional duties in San Antonio as a programmer. On February 25, he appeared in Washington in front of the Israeli embassy, protesting against the alleged genocide in Palestine.
11:23 AM EST, February 26, 2024
The 25-year-old had previously informed local media about his planned "extreme form of protest." During the moments before his self-immolation, he initiated a livestream online and articulated his reasons behind such a drastic act.
"I am an active member of the United States Air Force. I can no longer be complicit in genocide. I intend to carry out an extreme act of protest. But compared to what the people in Palestine have experienced at the hands of their colonizers - this is not extreme at all," Aaron Bushnell stated on the recording.
The man proceeded to douse himself with gasoline and set his body on fire. He managed to voice the phrase "Free Palestine" numerous times before he collapsed. The video clip displays several officers attempting to extinguish the burning body of Bushnell.
The 25-year-old had thoroughly prepared for his self-immolation. He created an account on the internet streaming platform Twitch, where he named his profile "LillyAnarKitty" and added a large banner of the Palestinian flag with the caption "Free Palestine."
Following the act of self-immolation, the critically injured man was rushed to a local hospital. Independent journalist Talia Jane, who had a conversation with the soldier's family, reported that the 25-year-old succumbed to his injuries on Sunday evening.
According to overseas reports, this tragic event marks the first time in the country's history that an active-duty member of the United States Army attempted self-immolation.
