Air Force Member Dies After Setting Himself on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Protest of Gaza War - PEOPLE

Air Force Member Dies After Setting Himself on Fire to Protest Gaza War
Politics Air Force Member Dies After Setting Himself on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Protest of Gaza War The Associated Press reports that the service member filmed a livestream of the incident on Sunday By Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee is a Politics Writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE for three years. Her work has previously appeared in The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Eater, and other outlets. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 26, 2024 05:49PM EST US Secret Service vehicles block access to a street leading to the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC on February 25, 2024. A man reportedly set himself on fire near the embassy on Sunday afternoon. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty A U.S. Air Force member has died one day after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., in what appears to have been a protest of Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Law enforcement officials identified the service member as 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell of San Antonio, Texas. Police take security measures and investigate the crime scene after 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty member of the US Air Force, set himself on fire Sunday outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. in protest against the war in Gaza on February 25, 2024. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty The Associated Press reports that Bushnell filmed a livestream of the incident on Sunday, in which he described the war in Gaza as a "genocide" before placing his phone down, pouring liquid from a water bottle over his head, and setting himself on fire while he yelled “Free Palestine." What Is Hamas, the Palestinian Militant Group Behind Terrorist Attacks on Israel? D.C. Fire and EMS issued a statement about the incident on Sunday, saying the agency's officials had "responded to call for person on fire outside the Israeli Embassy" shortly before 1 p.m. and arrived to find the fire had been extinguished by members of the U.S. Secret Service. One adult male was "transported critical life threatening injuries to an area hospital," the statement added. Fire and EMS outside the Israeli embassy. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty The AP also cites a statement issued by the Air Force (where Bushnell was an active duty officer) on Monday, which said, “The individual involved in yesterday’s incident succumbed to his injuries and passed away last night.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer. The incident comes as the fighting between Israel forces and Palestinian militant group Hamas stretches into its fourth month following Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel, when the group killed 1,200 civilians and soldiers and took at least 200 more as hostages. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas — which controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza — and indicated that a long military campaign to defeat the Islamist militants was on the horizon. Gaza Hospitals in 'Complete Chaos' Treating Civilians amid 'Crisis' Situation: Reports Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza — most of them women and children — since Israel's offensive began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, and protestors have accused Israel of committing genocide. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adamantly denied the allegations of genocide, saying the country is acting in self-defense, and has reportedly been holding talks on a proposed six-week pause in fighting, which would allow aid trucks to enter Gaza every day. Both sides would also reportedly use the pause to continue negotiating about a permanent cease-fire, per the AP.