A member of the US military reportedly engaged in an extreme act of protest against the ongoing genocide in Gaza by setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Reuters reported.
The report quoting authorities, said, US Secret Service officers managed to extinguish the flames, and the man was subsequently transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The person involved has been identified as an active duty airman, as confirmed by an Air Force spokesperson.
During the disturbing incident, the man, dressed in military fatigues, conveyed his strong opposition to what he perceived as genocide in Gaza.
In a live video broadcasted over the internet, he stated, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide.” He proceeded to douse himself in a clear liquid and set himself on fire, accompanied by shouts of “Free Palestine,” as reported by the New York Times.
Local law enforcement, along with the Secret Service, is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this act of protest. The Israeli Embassy in Washington has been a consistent target of demonstrations against the war in Gaza, which has sparked pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests throughout the United States.
The conflict in Gaza escalated following an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group in control of Gaza. The Israeli bombardment has killed more than 30,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.
This incident follows a similar act of protest in December when a demonstrator set herself on fire outside the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta. The ongoing conflict continues to evoke strong reactions and demonstrations on both sides in various parts of the United States.
