An active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington and is in critical condition. The incident occurred on Sunday, with the man being transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities are investigating the incident and have not released the man’s identity. A video on Twitch showed the man in uniform shouting “Free Palestine” while engulfed in flames.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the man was not known to embassy staff. The incident is believed to be in response to the Israel-Hamas war, which has resulted in numerous casualties. International calls for a cease-fire in Gaza have been ongoing due to the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Protests have been widespread across the United States in response to the conflict, with demonstrations happening almost daily. This incident marks the second self-immolation in protest of the war, with a similar incident occurring in December outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta.
Local and federal officials have not confirmed whether the act was a form of protest. The man allegedly live-streamed the incident and stated he would no longer be complicit in genocide. The platform Twitch removed the video, citing guideline violations. Police are working with various agencies to investigate the incident, including the Secret Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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