US airman Aaron Bushnell self-immolates outside Israel's DC embassy to protest Gaza genocide

A member of the US military set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC on Sunday afternoon in protest of Israel's relentless and genocidal war on Gaza.

Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old active duty airman, was pronounced dead later Sunday after being rushed to hospital.

Authorities had extinguished the fire, and an Israeli embassy spokeswoman said no staff were hurt. In uniform, Bushnell live-streamed the incident on the social media platform Twitch, introducing himself as he approached the gates of the embassy.

During his statement he played down the act of self-immolation, saying it did not compare to the suffering being experienced by Palestinians in Gaza, battered by months of Israeli bombardment.

Bushnell then set his phone down, stood in front of the embassy gates and poured a flammable substance over himself before sparking a fire.

Sirens could be heard only seconds later as authorities rushed to extinguish the fire. One security guard in the video is seen pointing a gun toward Bushnell, despite the latter being on the ground.

Nonetheless, the video has been widely shared on other social media platforms and notes of sympathy and solidarity poured in for Bushnell.