A U.S. Air Force member has died after self-immolating outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., in an apparent protest of the Israel-Hamas war, U.S. officials said.
Next-of-kin notification is ongoing, so the Air Force will not release his name until 24 hours after final notification is completed.
The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Bureau responded to a report of a person on fire outside the embassy just before 1 p.m. Sunday and found the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service extinguishing the fire.
Airmen filmed protesters shouting “Liberate Palestine” and falling to the ground.
In a livestream, he called Israel's crackdown in Gaza a “genocide” and said what he was doing was not as extreme as the suffering of Palestinians.
The man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to DC Fire and EMS. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that he is on active duty.
The embassy said no staff were injured.
The incident occurred amid a four-month war between Israel and Hamas.
The war began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostages. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or chat with us on Live Chat. 988lifeline.org.You can also visit SpeakerOfSuicide.com/Resources for additional support.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information.