Watch: Shouting 'Free Palestine', US Soldier sets himself ablaze; succumbs
An on-duty member of U.S. Air Force set himself on fire shouting ‘Free Palestine’ and slamming ‘Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza’ outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC Sunday February 25, 2024. Read More
Washington: An on-duty member of U.S. Air Force set himself on fire shouting ‘Free Palestine’ and slamming ‘Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza’ outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC Sunday February 25, 2024.
The U.S. airman who is identified as Aaron Bushnell, 25, was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Independent Journalist Talia Jane said she obtained the footage of the incident which shows Aaron Bushnell was wearing a military uniform and described himself as “an active duty member of the US Air Force.”
Jane later shared on social media platform X a blurred version of the video with the permission from the family of Aaron Bushnell.
“Loved ones of Aaron Bushnell, 25, reached out to me and gave me consent to post a blurred version of Bushnell’s protest today against genocide in Palestine”, Jane wrote on X, originally launched as Twitter, while sharing the video.
In the little over 3 minute horrifying and disturbing video, Aaron Bushnell is seen walking to the gates of the Israeli Embassy in the U.S. capital – in military uniform and carrying cans which probably had some volatile material.
Upon reaching the Israeli Embassy, Aaron Bushnell is seen pouring the volatile substance over his body and later setting himself on fire.
“I will no longer be complicit in genocide” and “Free Palestine” Aaron Bushnell can be clearly heard saying before igniting himself.
“I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But, compared to what the Palestinians have been experiencing at the hands of their colonizers, is not extreme at all”, he is heard saying as he walked to the Israeli Embassy.
US Air Force spokeswoman Rose Riley later confirmed to CNN that “an active duty airman was involved in today’s incident.”
Watch Video (Disturbing Content)
#AaronBushnell
— Hewarjoyer (@Speechbruh) February 26, 2024
this is a tribute to this fallen American hero who protested the genocide by Apartheid Israel against the palestinian children.
his action is deeply saddening, as he had hopes and dreams, and he shouldn't have done it.
but his protest will not be in vain. pic.twitter.com/AYVApKcWUZ
Friends have described Aaron Bushnell a kind-hearted and gentle person.
“Aaron is the kindest, gentlest, silliest little kid in the Air Force,” said Errico, who met Bushnell in 2022.
Widespread protests against the far right Zionist regime in Israel are continuing in different parts of the world, including the United States, ever since Oct 7, 2023 when the Israeli Occupation Forces launched their brutal military operation against the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israeli Occupation Forces are engaged in the massacre of the Palestinians in retaliation of the Hamas attack on the Occupied Palestinian territories under the Zionist control that killed over 1,100.
The Palestinian Resistance Groups also took some 250 hostages while retreating. About 110 of them have been released as part of a prisoner swap deal in November last.
The Israeli forces have so far killed more than 30,000 Palestinians – over 70% of them women and children, and have also imposed total blockade and siege of the Gaza Strip.
The Americans in different parts of the United States are not only protesting againt the brutal Israeli military operation and forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza but also the Joe Biden and his government's monetary and military support to Israel.
Israel on the other hand terms its military action in Gaza self-defence. But, a number of world leaders, including officials of the United Nations, have said Israeli actions in Gaza have gone beyond the scope of self-defence.
International scholars and academicians have went to the extent of describing Israeli’ carnage in Gaza “a textbook case of genocide" while a top UN official said Israel as an occupation power does not have the right to self defence as per the international law.
The Israeli Occupation Forces, meanwhile, have also ignored the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order asking them to stop killing civilians. The ICJ preliminary order was in response of South Africa plea accusing the Israeli occupation forces of violating Genocide Convention.
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