A member of the US Air Force was in critical condition after reportedly setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, Sunday afternoon.

A video live streamed on Twitch appeared to show the Air Force member in uniform standing in front of the embassy gate and identifying himself as a member of the US Air Force, the New York Times and Washington Post said, citing officials who confirmed the footage matched the man in question.

“I will no longer be complicit in genocide [in Gaza]. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest,” the man apparently said before setting himself alight and repeatedly shouting “Free Palestine!”

The name the man used in the video – which has not been shared publicly – matches a LinkedIn account for an active-duty Air Force officer from Texas, the Times reported. A spokesperson for the Air Force told Task & Purpose that the man is an active-duty airman. His identity has not been confirmed.

A man wearing a US Air Force uniform reportedly set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy
A photo posted on X (formerly Twitter) shows an unidentified man who reportedly set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.X/Talia Jane

Authorities at the scene could be heard asking “May I help you, sir?” and yelling at the man to get down on the ground while he was on fire, the footage showed.

Members of Israel's government and their families have received threatening letters from the 'Israeli Revengers' group vowing to harm them over the Jewish State's alleged failings in preventing the Oct. 7 massacre.

One person sprayed the man with a fire extinguisher, while another appeared to draw his gun.

The troubling footage was quickly removed on Sunday afternoon because it violated the streaming app’s guidelines.

The Air Force said it was unable to verify reports that the man was an active serviceman. 

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and DC Fire and EMS declined to comment on the allegations.

First responders were dispatched to the scene about 1 p.m., a spokesperson from DC Fire and EMS confirmed to The Post.

The exterior of the Israeli Embassy.
The DC Fire and EMS services were dispatched to the scene shortly before 1 p.m.REUTERS

By the time first responders arrived, the flames had already been extinguished by members of the US Secret Service, the fire service added.

The man was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The Israeli Embassy did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for a comment on the incident.

No embassy staff were injured during the fire, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, according to GLZ Radio.

The man was not known to the embassy before the incident, the statement added.

The man was still alive in critical condition as of 3 p.m. Sunday, according to MPD.

The man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.@GLZRadio/Twitter

The Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating alongside MPD.  

Earlier footage showed more fire trucks and a hazmat crew arriving at the scene to inspect the man’s car, freelance reporter Andrew Leyden shared on X.

The vehicle appeared to be a silver Prius, according to video footage from Alexis Wainwright of WUSA9.

The car was later cleared and authorities determined there was no active threat, the MPD spokesperson said.

Hours after the incident, there still appeared to be a charred spot on the pavement outside the embassy, FOX5 reported David Kaplan shared on X.

The incident comes after months of political tensions over Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack and Israel’s subsequent ground operations in the Gaza Strip.

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Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the controversial assault on the southern city of Rafah, saying it “has to be done” for a “total victory.”

Rafah is now the most densely populated Gazan city after Palestinians in the north were forced to flee the Israeli military’s assault on the north.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

Per: NYP

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