As an active member of the US Air Force, a person took a drastic step outside the Israeli embassy in Washington. This incident occurred on Sunday, reportedly as a protest against the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to officials and media sources.
Emergency services hurried to the scene just before 1:00 pm in response to reports of a person on fire outside the Israeli Embassy. The capital’s fire department posted about the incident on X (formerly Twitter).
Upon arrival, responders found that officers from the Secret Service had already put out the fire. The individual was then rushed to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries, as stated by the fire department.
Confirming his military affiliation, an Air Force spokesperson acknowledged that the man was indeed an active member of the Air Force, though no further details were provided.
The Israeli embassy spokesperson mentioned that none of their staff were harmed in the incident. They also stated that the individual was not known to them.
According to reports from US media outlets, the man appeared to livestream the incident on Twitch. He was seen wearing military attire and expressing his refusal to be complicit in what he described as genocide, before setting himself on fire and shouting “Free Palestine!” until he collapsed.
Although the footage was reportedly removed from Twitch, AFP has been unable to verify its authenticity.
This shocking event unfolded amidst escalating protests across the United States against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The conflict has intensified following an attack by Hamas militants on October 7.
As the death toll in Gaza climbs, nearing 30,000 according to the Hamas-run health ministry, pressure mounts internationally on the United States to intervene and urge Israel, its ally, to agree to a ceasefire.
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