WASHINGTON: An energetic member of the US Air Drive set himself on hearth exterior the Israeli embassy in Washington on Sunday (Feb 25), officers mentioned, as media reported he was protesting the struggle in Gaza.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene simply earlier than 1pm in response to a “name for individual on hearth exterior the Israeli Embassy”, in response to a message on X, previously Twitter, by the capital’s hearth division.
They arrived to seek out that officers from the Secret Service – the US regulation enforcement company tasked with defending US political leaders, visiting heads of state and others – had already extinguished the hearth.
The person was transported to hospital with “essential life threatening accidents”, the hearth division mentioned.
An Air Drive spokesperson confirmed to AFP that he was an energetic member of the Air Drive, however gave no additional particulars.
A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy mentioned no workers have been injured within the incident, and that the person was “unknown” to them.
US media reported that the person apparently livestreamed himself on Twitch, carrying fatigues and declaring he’ll “not be complicit in genocide” earlier than dousing himself in liquid.
He then lit himself on hearth whereas yelling “Free Palestine!” till he fell on the bottom.
AFP has been unable to instantly confirm the footage, with the New York Occasions reporting that it was faraway from Twitch.
The stunning act got here as protests are rising throughout the USA towards Israel’s actions in Gaza, the place it’s waging a retaliatory struggle for an assault on Oct 7 by Hamas militants.
With the dying toll in Gaza nearing 30,000, in response to the Hamas-run well being ministry there, worldwide stress has been rising on the USA to rein its ally Israel in and name for a ceasefire.
