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| partof = the [[Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States]]
| partof = the [[Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States]]
| date = {{nowrap|{{start date|2024|02|25}}}}
| date = {{nowrap|{{start date|2024|02|25}}}}
| image = Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C.jpg
| image = Self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell.png
| caption = Front gate of the [[Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C.|Embassy of Israel]], where Bushnell set himself on fire
| caption = Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire at the front gate of the [[Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C.|Embassy of Israel]], while shouting "[[Palestinian nationalism|Free Palestine]]!"
| Location = [[Washington, D.C.]], United States
| Location = [[Washington, D.C.]], United States
| type = [[Self-immolation]]
| type = [[Self-immolation]]

Revision as of 16:09, 26 February 2024

Self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell
Part of the Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States
Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire at the front gate of the Embassy of Israel, while shouting "Free Palestine!"
DateFebruary 25, 2024 (2024-02-25)
LocationWashington, D.C., United States
TypeSelf-immolation
MotiveOpposition to United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war
Deaths1 (Bushnell)

On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force, approached the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., and committed an act of self-immolation at the front gate to protest United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war. During the incident, Bushnell said he was protesting "what people have been experiencing in Palestine at their hands of their colonizers" and declared that he "will no longer be complicit in genocide" before dousing himself with a flammable liquid and lighting himself on fire. As he burned, Bushnell repeatedly shouted "Free Palestine!" while local emergency services arrived on scene.[1][2][3]

The act was livestreamed on Twitch.[4] The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department responded to assist the United States Secret Service after he set himself on fire, and he was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.[5] The hospital has not given an update on his condition; however, an independent journalist reported that he had died.[2][6] This was the second self-immolation protesting the war at an Israeli diplomatic station in the United States, with a protestor setting themselves on fire at the Atlanta consulate in December.[1]

Background

Bushnell started his career with the United States Air Force (USAF) in May 2020, having done Basic & Technical Training. He was trained as a Client Systems Technician, having been educated in cybersecurity. He later worked as a USAF DevOps engineer in San Antonio, Texas.[2]

Event

Many of us like to ask ourselves, 'What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now.

Aaron Bushnell, final message on Facebook.[7]

Bushnell reportedly sent a message to media outlets before his planned self-immolation where he wrote "Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people".[2]

On February 25, 2024, at approximately 12:58 p.m. local time, Bushnell approached the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. intending to immolate himself as an act of protest against the Israel–Hamas war. He had also created a Twitch account[2] under the name "LillyAnarKitty" with a Palestinian flag as his profile banner with the caption "Free Palestine". While livestreaming, he said "I am an active duty member, of the United States Airforce. And I will no longer be complicit to genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at their hands of their colonizers—it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal,"[8] while walking towards the Israeli Embassy.

Outside the gates of the embassy, Bushnell placed his camera down and positioned himself in front of the gates. He poured gasoline over himself, exclaimed "Free Palestine"[9] and threw the canister holding the flammable liquid on the side. A security officer approached Bushnell, asking if he needed help, but was ignored.[citation needed]

After igniting himself, Bushnell repeatedly shouted "Free Palestine!" as he was burning, until he collapsed to the ground.[2][3][10][11] The security officer radioed in for assistance. Another police officer approached the scene, aiming a gun at Bushnell off-camera and ordered him to "get on the ground" multiple times, while another officer yells "I don't need guns, I need fire extinguishers".[7] Multiple officers responded to the scene and used fire extinguishers on Bushnell. He was transported by the DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.[6]

Aftermath

The Secret Service, Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced they would investigate the incident.[2]

Twitch removed Bushnell's livestream due to guideline violations.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kavi, Aishvarya (February 25, 2024). "A man set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, the police said". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Guzman, Chad de (February 25, 2024). "U.S. Air Force Member Sets Self on Fire Outside Israel's Embassy in D.C. to Protest War in Gaza". Time. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Davies, Emily; Rempfer, Kyle; and Lamothe, Dan (February 25, 2024). "Active-duty airman sets himself on fire outside D.C.'s Israeli Embassy". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024. shows him referring to his service in the U.S. armed forces and shouting "Free Palestine" as he burned.
  4. ^ Pitofsky, Marina; Ortiz, Jorge L.; and Nguyen, Thao (February 25, 2024). "Air Force member in critical condition after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Who is Aaron Bushnell, US Air Force member sets himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in Washington". The Economic Times. February 25, 2024. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Davies, Emily; Hermann, Peter (February 26, 2024). "Airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C." Washington Post. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Rahman, Khaleda (February 26, 2024). "Who is Aaron Bushnell? US airman sets himself on fire by Israeli embassy". Newsweek. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Nieto, Phillip (February 25, 2024). "Air Force Service Member Sets Himself On Fire Outside Israeli Embassy". Mediaite. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Air Force man sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington DC". BBC News. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  10. ^ "US airman sets himself on fire outside Israel embassy to protest 'genocide'". Al Jazeera. February 26, 2024. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024. He then lit himself on fire while yelling "Free Palestine!" until he fell to the ground.
  11. ^ Diver, Tony and Hamblin, Andrea (February 26, 2024). "US military officer sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024. standing outside the embassy wearing a military uniform and shouting "Free Palestine" as he burned.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=&diff=prev&oldid=1210432176

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