Air Force service member dies after setting himself ablaze outside Israeli Embassy

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An Air Force service member died after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington in an apparent act of political protest against the war in Gaza, Air Force officials confirmed Monday.

“The Airman involved in yesterday’s incident succumbed to his injuries and passed away last night,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in a statement to The Washington Times. “We will provide additional details 24 hours after next of kin notifications are complete.”

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

A video viewed by The Times showed the airman in uniform approaching the embassy on International Drive in the District.

In the video, he identified himself, confirmed he was in the Air Force and said he “will no longer be complicit in genocide.”

“I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest,” the airman said. “But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all.”

In the video, the airman walks up to a gate at the embassy and pours flammable liquid from a metal flask over his head before struggling to ignite his lighter.

He live-streamed his self-immolation as an apparent protest against the Israel-Hamas war.

“This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal,” the airman said.

He could be heard shouting “Free Palestine” as the flames consumed his body. It took about a minute before the fire was finally extinguished.

The man’s LinkedIn page identified him as an “aspiring software engineer” from San Antonio who was preparing to transition out of the Air Force.

“Throughout my time in the military in both leadership and followership roles, as well as prior work experience in a variety of civilian roles, I have thrived in team environments and gained very good communication skills,” he wrote. “I have been commended by senior leaders for my ability to explain complex technical matters to them.”

Israel declared war on Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack where Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and took hundreds hostage. Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war.