Aaron Bushnell: Friends struggle to comprehend US airman's Gaza protest death - BBC News

Those close to Aaron Bushnell say they are still trying to process his decision to set himself on fire outside Israel's Washington embassy.

22 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AnadoluImage caption, A protester in Chicago holds a photo of Aaron BushnellBy Kayla Epstein in New York and Angelica Casas in San AntonioBBC NewsOn Sunday morning, 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell walked calmly up to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC and set himself on fire.

Dressed in his US Air Force uniform, Mr Bushnell said he would "no longer be complicit in genocide". He shouted "Free Palestine" as he burned, until he collapsed to the ground. Hours later, he died in hospital.

Mr Bushnell live-streamed his self-immolation, ensuring that his actions - which he described as an "extreme act of protest" - were seen far beyond Washington.

Though his initial video was removed, the footage was shared widely on social media, and Mr Bushnell's suicide has prompted vigils in US cities this week by those campaigning against Israel's military actions in Gaza. The death toll there passed 30,000 this week, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Others have expressed concern about the extreme nature of his protest and fears it could inspire other deadly acts.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68455401

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