US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy

[This week a young US Airman, Aaron Bushnell, set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy to protest the Zionist genocide in Gaza. There have been Americans and others from privileged backgrounds who have sacrificed their lives in the struggle for human liberation. Rachel Corrie was another American who was murdered by the IDF while struggling against Zionist genocide. Contrast this to IDF soldiers who broadcast their cruelty on social media, only to get shot standing in a window doing a TikTok dance as their comrades scatter in terror. As Mao said “To die for the people is weightier than Mt. Tai, but to work for the fascists and die for the oppressors and exploiters is light as a feather.” While his sacrifice was great, and certainly impactful, we can now only wonder what amazing work he could have accomplished in service to humanity had his life not been cut short. We mourn those lost and grieve with their families. All people of good will should hold these martyrs in high regard! Statues will be built to them one day! — Comrade Toshiro]

US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy

Aaron Bushnell yelled ‘Free Palestine!’ then lit himself on fire near the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC.

26 February 2024

By Al Jazeera Staff

A member of the United States air force who had set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in an apparent protest against Israel’s war in Gaza has died, the Pentagon says.

The 25-year-old airman, Aaron Bushnell of San Antonio, Texas, died from his injuries, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC, said on Monday.

US media reports said Bushnell livestreamed himself on the social media platform Twitch wearing fatigues and declaring he would “not be complicit in genocide” before dousing himself in liquid on Sunday.

He then lit himself on fire while yelling “Free Palestine!” until he fell to the ground. The footage has since been removed from Twitch.

In a statement, the air force said on Monday: “The individual involved in yesterday’s incident succumbed to his injuries and passed away last night.”

The air force said it would provide additional information a day after military officials complete notifying his next of kin.

The incident comes as protests against Israel’s war on Gaza continue across the US.

In December, a protester set herself on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta. A Palestinian flag was found at the scene, and the act was believed to be one of “extreme political protest”.

Israel launched an assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,139 people and seizing about 250 as hostages.

Since those attacks, Israel has bombarded the Palestinian territory from air, land and sea and launched a ground invasion. More than 29,000 people have been killed in the Israeli assault, according to Palestinian authorities.

Israel’s campaign in Gaza has left much of the territory in ruins and displaced more than 80 percent of its population.

Original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/us-airman-who-set-himself-on-fire-outside-israeli-embassy-dies (Al Jazeera)