SAN ANTONIO — A U.S. airman based in San Antonio died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C., according to police.
On Sunday, D.C. Metro said 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell poured an unknown liquid on himself and ignited it.
Police said he eventually collapsed and was consumed by the fire. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
CBS News is reporting the U.S. Air Force confirmed Monday, Bushnell was a cyber defense operations specialist at Lackland Air Force Base. He moved to San Antonio from Massachusetts in 2020 for basic training.
Bushnell reportedly livestreamed himself during the incident on social media. In the video, he is heard saying he would “no longer be complicit in genocide” before setting himself on fire. He then goes on to say, “free Palestine."
Local pro-Palestine activist, Bilal Deiri watched the video.
"It was really really awful,” Deiri said.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, two-thirds of them women and children.
This is the second time someone has set themselves on fire outside an Israeli facility in the U.S. since the conflict began.
"It's hard to see somebody being driven to feel like that's needed in order to bring more attention to the situation,” Deiri said.
Deiri said he is heartbroken for the airman’s family. He said he won’t stop speaking out, calling ceasefire.
"Our politicians are just not listening to us,” Deiri said. “They don't hear us.”
On Monday, President Joe Biden said he hopes a ceasefire and hostage deal between Hamas and Israel will take place early next week.
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