aaron bushnell was just 25-year-old when he set himself on fire in front of the israeli embassy in washington on february 25, 2024

bushnell’s act was the second self-immolation protesting united states support for israel in the 2023 war, which has killed over 40,000 palestinians to date (with more than half being women and children *PBS) and resulted in a major humanitarian crisis. in december 2023, another protestor set herself on fire at the israeli consulate in atlanta.

aaron bushnell was a U.S. air force devops engineer, troubled by what he saw. he died after setting himself on fire outside the front gate of the embassy of israel in washington, D.C. immediately before the act, bushnell said that he was protesting against “what people have been experiencing in palestine at the hands of their colonizers” and declared that he “will no longer be complicit in genocide”, after which he doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. as he burned, bushnell repeatedly shouted “free palestine!” after he collapsed onto the ground, two secret service officers attempted to extinguish the flames while a third covered for them with their weapon. bushnell was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and was declared dead in the evening. despite the media ignoring this act of defiance, this selflessness should not be forgotten in this selfish world. to peace and safety for all innocent israelis and all palestinians. by xy