U.S. Air Force member sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., in apparent protest against war in Gaza

An active-duty U.S. Air Pressure member is in vital situation after he set himself on fireplace exterior the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, officers stated.

The person set himself on fireplace round 1 p.m. ET and each the U.S. Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Division responded, the companies stated.

The embassy stated in a press release to CBS Information that no employees members had been injured.

MPD additionally investigated a “suspicious automobile” it stated could also be linked to the person who set himself on fireplace, however that automobile was cleared round 4 p.m.

In a video that was dwell streamed on Twitch, the person recognized himself and stated he was an energetic responsibility member of the U.S. Air Pressure. The Air Pressure confirmed an energetic responsibility airman was concerned, however didn’t determine him. Neither USSS nor MPD has recognized the person. CBS Information has not independently verified his identification.

Previous to setting himself on fireplace, the person stated he would “not be complicit in genocide” and that he was “about to have interaction in an excessive act of protest.” After setting himself on fireplace, he yelled “free Palestine” repeatedly.

The Twitch channel has since been eliminated, however Talia Jane, an impartial reporter who obtained a hyperlink to the video earlier Sunday, archived the video and shared it with CBS Information.

That is the second time somebody has set themselves on fireplace exterior an Israeli facility within the U.S. for the reason that begin of the Israel-Hamas battle. 

A protester set themself on fireplace exterior the Israeli consulate in Atlanta final December. A Palestinian flag was discovered on the scene after what police known as an “excessive act of political protest,” based on the BBC.

Greater than 4 months after Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel, the dying toll in Gaza is nearing 30,000, based on the Gaza Ministry of Well being.  

Sunday’s incident comes lower than per week after the US vetoed a U.N. decision calling for a direct cease-fire within the Gaza Strip, though negotiations to dealer a brief cease-fire to facilitate the additional launch of hostages are ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has additionally continued to defend his army’s actions in Gaza. 

Whereas the State Division twice in December bypassed Congress to approve emergency weapons gross sales to Israel, President Biden has turn into extra vital of Israel’s techniques in current weeks, at one level calling Israel’s response in Gaza “excessive.” Mr. Biden has additionally urged Netanyahu to chorus from a floor assault within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, the place some 1.4 million Palestinians have already sought refuge from the combating, until Israel had a “credible” plan to make sure the protection of Palestinian civilians.

Netanyahu, nonetheless, appeared intent on launching a floor assault on Rafah, saying Sunday on “Face the Nation” that such an operation would imply, “the extreme section of the combating is weeks away from completion.”

The leaders of a number of international locations have accused Israel of finishing up a genocide in Gaza, with South Africa bringing a case earlier than the United Nations’ Worldwide Courtroom of Justice. In a January interim judgment, then-ICJ President Joan E. Donoghue refused Israel’s request to dismiss the case. The courtroom discovered it had jurisdiction to think about the case, noting there have been believable claims Israel may very well be committing genocidal acts. The courtroom, nonetheless, didn’t order a cease-fire.

Netanyahu has denied any claims of genocide, saying after the courtroom’s interim ruling the allegation is “not solely false, it is outrageous.”

Extra