A U.S. Serviceman Dies After Setting Himself on Fire in Front of The Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.

In the context of the Palestine-Israel conflict, opinions are divided in power circles, but in the general public, condemnation of Israel is almost unanimous. The situation in the Middle East has provoked intense and heated reactions on social networks, reflecting the deep polarization and indignation surrounding this conflict.

“I will not be complicit in genocide,” the man, dressed in military uniform, said in a video he streamed live on the Internet, according to the New York Times. He then doused himself with a clear liquid and set himself on fire while shouting “Free Palestine!” the Times reported. Local police and the Secret Service confirmed Aaron Bushnell’s death due to his injuries.

According to Reuters, the Israeli embassy has been the target of ongoing protests against the war in Gaza. The war in Gaza has led to pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests in the United States. The protests began after Oct. 7 when Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules Gaza, killed 1,200 Israelis and took 253 people hostage in a cross-border attack. Since then, Israeli forces have waged a military campaign against the coastal enclave, leaving much of it devastated, with nearly 30,000 dead, according to Palestinian health officials. In December, a protester set herself on fire in front of the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta.