In a tragic turn of events, a member of the U.S. military, who had set himself ablaze outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, passed away, as confirmed by local authorities on Monday. The individual, identified as a U.S. airman, had been in critical condition since Sunday when he was engulfed in flames before being rescued by Secret Service officers.
Reports suggest that the airman, clad in military attire, live-streamed the incident, expressing his opposition to Israeli military actions in Gaza before igniting himself. The Pentagon termed the incident as a tragedy, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin monitoring the situation closely.
The distressing event occurs against the backdrop of ongoing demonstrations across the United States, reflecting both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli sentiments. These protests follow a recent escalation in tensions stemming from a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
Subsequently, Israeli forces launched a military offensive against Hamas, resulting in substantial destruction in Gaza and a considerable loss of life, according to Palestinian health authorities. Notably, this incident is not the first of its kind, as similar acts of protest have been witnessed previously, including a woman setting herself alight outside the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta last December.