In a shocking display of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israeli war in Gaza, a U.S. military service member ignited himself outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
The soldier’s fiery act unfolded on Sunday afternoon, drawing attention from authorities and bystanders alike.
Following swift intervention by U.S. Secret Service officers, the flames were extinguished, and the soldier was rushed to a nearby hospital, as reported by DC Fire and EMS.
While the soldier remains in critical condition, a Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson provided updates on his health status.
Identified as an active-duty airman, the soldier voiced his motives in a live internet broadcast captured by The New York Times, declaring, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide.”
Clad in military fatigues, he proceeded to douse himself in a clear liquid before igniting, punctuating his act with cries of “Free Palestine,” according to eyewitness accounts detailed by the Times.
