An active-duty airman reportedly shouted “Liberate Palestine” as he self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.
An active-duty U.S. military personnel self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., in an apparent protest against Israel's devastating war in Gaza, officials said.
The man, whose name was not immediately released, was rushed to hospital with “serious life-threatening injuries” on Sunday, according to the U.S. capital's fire department.
The agency announced that emergency responders rushed to the scene just before 1:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. Japan time) in response to “a report of a person on fire in front of the Israeli embassy.”
When they arrived, they found that U.S. Secret Service agents had already extinguished the fire.
The U.S. Air Force said the incident involved an active-duty airman.
According to US media reports, the man livestreamed himself on Twitch, wearing a military uniform and declaring that he would “not participate in genocide” before being doused with liquid.
He then set himself on fire while shouting “Liberate Palestine!” Until he fell to the ground.
The video has since been removed from Twitch. Local police said they were investigating the incident.
police also said Explosives Ordinance was called to the scene in reference to a suspicious vehicle possibly related to the individual. It was later announced that no harmful substances were found.
A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy told The New York Times that no staff were injured and that all staff members were safe.
#incident: Police responded to the 3500 block of International Drive, N.W., to assist the U.S. Secret Intelligence Service after an individual attempted self-immolation in front of the embassy on that block at approximately 1 p.m. . (1/3)
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 25, 2024
The Israeli embassy has been the target of ongoing protests against Israel's war in Gaza. The protests began on October 7, when Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules Gaza, killed 1,200 Israelis and took 253 hostages in a cross-border attack.
Since then, Israeli forces have carried out military operations against the coastal enclave, leaving much of it in ruins and killing nearly 30,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
In December, protesters self-immolated outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta. A Palestinian flag was found at the scene, and the act is believed to be part of an “extreme political protest.”