The Pentagon said the actions of a US Air Force member who died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington to protest Israel's war in the Gaza Strip were a “tragic event.”
The airman, identified as Aaron Bushnell, 25, of San Antonio, Texas, died after the incident.
“It's certainly a tragic event,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. “We express our deepest condolences to the airman's family.”
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DC law enforcement in front of the Israeli embassy. An airman died Sunday after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy. (FoxNews)
Ryder referred questions about the incident to local authorities in Washington, DC.
Bushnell set himself on fire Sunday afternoon in front of the Israeli embassy after streaming live on Twitch as he approached the building. During the video, he said that he “will no longer be complicit in the genocide,” The Associated Press reported.
He then left his phone, doused himself with accelerant and set himself on fire. The video was removed from the platform but authorities obtained a copy.
“The individual involved in yesterday's incident succumbed to his injuries and passed away last night,” the Air Force said in a statement issued Sunday night.
The Air Force said it would provide additional information a day after military officials completed notification to next of kin.
The Israeli military says this photograph shows its troops operating inside the Gaza Strip on Sunday, November 5. (Israel Defense Forces via AP)
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the military branch.
The incident occurred as Israel continues its military offensive in southern Gaza. Israel has said its military response to the October 7 attack by Hamas is in accordance with international law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
