US soldier self-immolates in protest against Gaza war at Israeli Embassy in Washington
4:36 AM EST, February 26, 2024
An American Air Force member set himself on fire on Sunday afternoon in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, as reported by Reuters. The man attempted self-immolation as a form of protest against the war in Gaza. His flames were quickly extinguished by Secret Service officers. Local police confirmed the soldier is currently in critical condition in the hospital.
As reported by The New York Times, the incident was livestreamed on the Twitch platform. In his message, the man stated, "I can no longer participate in a genocide. I intend to engage in an extreme act of protest," After which, he doused himself in a flammable liquid and set himself alight, all the while chanting, "Free Palestine".
The video was promptly taken down
The video depicted a man dressed in military uniform. He identified himself as an officer in the United States Air Force. According to The New York Times, the surname he used in the video corresponds to a LinkedIn profile of a soldier based in Texas. A spokesperson for the Air Force affirmed that an active-duty airman was involved in the incident, according to Reuters. The video was eventually taken down on Sunday afternoon for violating Twitch's service rules.
A press spokeswoman for the embassy, Tal Naim, stated that none of the embassy staff was injured during the incident. The investigation is currently being conducted by local police and special services.
Sources: Reuters, The New York Times
