self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell

Bushnell grew up in Orleans, Massachusetts, in the isolated Christian Community of Jesus compound.{{cite news |last=Simons |first=Raoul |date=February 27, 2024 |title=US airman who killed himself outside Israeli Embassy was anarchist from religious sect |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/27/us-airman-aaron-bushnell-israeli-embassy-washington-church/ |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227144206/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/27/us-airman-aaron-bushnell-israeli-embassy-washington-church/ |url-status=live}} He attended Nauset Regional High School, and worked for a Brewster, Massachusetts-based Christian book, music, and video publishing company from 2015 to 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/local/2024/02/29/family-former-orleans-student-aaron-bushnell-offered-condolences/72758884007/ |title=Former Cape Cod student's self-immolation draws response from schools, community |last=Coffey |first=Denise |work=Cape Cod Times |date=February 29, 2024 |access-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-date=March 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307213657/https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/local/2024/02/29/family-former-orleans-student-aaron-bushnell-offered-condolences/72758884007/ |url-status=live }} He told a friend that he left the Community of Jesus in 2019.{{cite news |last1=Epstein |first1=Kayla |last2=Casas |first2=Angelica |date=March 2, 2024 |title=Aaron Bushnell: Friends speak of struggle to comprehend US airman's Gaza protest death |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68455401.amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302182038/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68455401.amp |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |access-date=March 3, 2024 |work=BBC News}}

He started his career with the United States Air Force (USAF) in May 2020, having completed Basic & Technical Training. He was trained as a Client Systems Technician, specializing in cybersecurity. He later worked as a USAF DevOps engineer in San Antonio, Texas, and was pursuing an undergraduate degree in software engineering from Southern New Hampshire University.{{cite magazine |last=Guzman |first=Chad de |date=February 25, 2024 |title=U.S. Serviceman Dies After Setting Self on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy to Protest War in Gaza |url=https://time.com/6821425/israel-embassy-air-force-protest-fire-self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-latest-updates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226053631/https://time.com/6821425/israel-embassy-air-force-protest-fire-self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-latest-updates/ |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |magazine=Time}}

A friend of Bushnell named Lupe Barboza said in an interview with Al Jazeera that Bushnell was religious and anti-imperialistic,{{Cite news |url=https://omny.fm/shows/the-take/an-extreme-act-why-aaron-bushnell-self-immolated-f |title='An extreme act': Why Aaron Bushnell self-immolated for Gaza |work=Al Jazeera |date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228075600/https://omny.fm/shows/the-take/an-extreme-act-why-aaron-bushnell-self-immolated-f |url-status=live}} but that she did not think that Bushnell was mentally ill.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QZfXjHcNpA |title=US man self-immolates in protest of Gaza funding, spurring nationwide vigils and ceasefire calls |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228075055/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QZfXjHcNpA |url-status=live}} Other friends said that Bushnell's contract with the military was to expire in May and that, following the police murder of George Floyd, Bushnell became more open in his objections with the military.{{cite web |last=Stieb |first=Matt |date=February 28, 2024 |title=What We Know About the Man Who Self-Immolated in Front of the Israeli Embassy |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/aaron-bushnell-self-immolation-what-we-know.html |access-date=February 28, 2024 |website=Intelligencer |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228191705/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/aaron-bushnell-self-immolation-what-we-know.html |url-status=live}}

Bushnell thought of himself as an anarchist.{{Cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Emily |last2=Hermann |first2=Peter |last3=Lamothe |first3=Dan |date=March 1, 2024 |title=Airman who set self on fire grew up on religious compound, had anarchist past |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/26/israeli-embassy-airman-fire-death-gaza/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240227050205/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/26/israeli-embassy-airman-fire-death-gaza/ |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |access-date=March 28, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news |last=Luscombe |first=Richard |date=February 27, 2024 |title=US airman who burned himself to death at Israeli embassy had anarchist past |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/27/aaron-bushnell-israel-embassy-anarchist-community-of-jesus |access-date=March 28, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329070032/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/27/aaron-bushnell-israel-embassy-anarchist-community-of-jesus |url-status=live}} Less than two weeks before his death, he talked with a friend about their shared identities as anarchists and the risks and sacrifices that are needed to be effective as anarchists. Bushnell used the anarchist symbol as his profile photo on the Twitch account he used to livestream his self-immolation, and his username was "LillyAnarKitty". He also followed and liked several anarchist pages on Facebook. In the last months of his life he also published many posts in various anarchism-related Reddit communities.{{cite news |last=Mazurov |first=Nikita |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Aaron Bushnell, Who Self-Immolated for Palestine, Had Grown Deeply Disillusioned With the Military |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/aaron-bushnell-reddit-fire-protest-israel-palestine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229211132/https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/aaron-bushnell-reddit-fire-protest-israel-palestine/ |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |access-date=February 29, 2024 |work=The Intercept}} CrimethInc, an anarchist collective, claimed that Bushnell contacted it shortly before his death, asking it to "make sure that the footage is preserved and reported on".

The Intercept found that Bushnell used a Reddit account with the username "acebush1".{{Cite web |last=Zuylen-Wood |first=Simon van |date=2024-06-19 |title=Aaron Bushnell's Agonies |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/who-is-aaron-bushnell-self-immolation-israel-embassy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620075125/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/who-is-aaron-bushnell-self-immolation-israel-embassy.html |archive-date=2024-06-20 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Intelligencer |language=en}} This user posted on Reddit denouncing Israel as a "settler colonialist apartheid state", and wrote in a comment about the Israeli civilians murdered by Hamas at the Nova music festival: "those people's fun at the music festival was specifically built on Palestinian suffering. There are no innocent civilians in se[t]ller colonialism".acebush1 (November 13, 2023). [https://archive.today/20240227223811/https://www.reddit.com/user/acebush1?count=675&after=t1_k96mccq Reddit thread]. Archived by The Intercept on February 27, 2024. Linked from: Mazurov, Nikita (February 28, 2024). "[https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/aaron-bushnell-reddit-fire-protest-israel-palestine/ Aaron Bushnell, Who Self-Immolated for Palestine, Had Grown Deeply Disillusioned With the Military] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229211132/https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/aaron-bushnell-reddit-fire-protest-israel-palestine/ |date=February 29, 2024 }}". The Intercept.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-02-27 |title=Hamas praises US pilot who self-immolated as 'heroic' |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/usa/hamas-praises-us-pilot-who-self-immolated-as-heroic-umomcs1e |access-date=2024-05-08 |work=The Jewish Chronicle |language=en |archive-date=April 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405165021/https://www.thejc.com/news/usa/hamas-praises-us-pilot-who-self-immolated-as-heroic-umomcs1e |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Ponnuru |first=Ramesh |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Opinion {{!}} Self-immolation is not an act of political protest we should celebrate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/28/aaron-bushnell-protest-fire-dangerous/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229170135/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/28/aaron-bushnell-protest-fire-dangerous/ |url-status=live}} He also called Hamas an "anti-colonial resistance organization", and according to one of his friends who was with him on October 7, their reaction to Hamas's attack was "Cool, they broke out of their prison."

Bushnell was not the first person in the US to use self-immolation to protest against Israel over the Palestinian humanitarian crisis.{{cite news |title='An extreme act': Why Aaron Bushnell self-immolated for Gaza |date=February 28, 2024 |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://omny.fm/shows/the-take/an-extreme-act-why-aaron-bushnell-self-immolated-f |access-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228075600/https://omny.fm/shows/the-take/an-extreme-act-why-aaron-bushnell-self-immolated-f |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |last1=Burga |first1=Solcyré |last2=Shah |first2=Simmone |date=February 26, 2024 |title=The History of Self-Immolation as Political Protest |url=https://time.com/6835364/self-immolation-history-israel-hamas-war/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226234516/https://time.com/6835364/self-immolation-history-israel-hamas-war/ |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |magazine=Time}} On December 1, 2023, an individual, whose identity was not revealed by Atlanta authorities, protested via self-immolation outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, which resulted in the protester having critical injuries.{{cite news |date=December 2, 2023 |title=Protester critically injured after setting self on fire outside Israeli consulate in Atlanta |url=https://apnews.com/article/israeli-consulate-self-immolation-atlanta-protester-8f17dd72592f86797a45cda9b60605a5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227001110/https://apnews.com/article/israeli-consulate-self-immolation-atlanta-protester-8f17dd72592f86797a45cda9b60605a5 |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=Associated Press}}

File:Israeli Embassy Washington DC 3221.JPG

Bushnell drafted a will before immolating himself, which left instructions for his savings to be donated to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund and his cat to be left with a neighbor after his death.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Juliana |title=U.S. airman dies after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/25/1233810136/fire-man-israeli-embassy-washington |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=NPR |date=February 26, 2024 |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227003604/https://www.npr.org/2024/02/25/1233810136/fire-man-israeli-embassy-washington |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Quil |title=What we know about the airman who immolated himself in front of the Israeli Embassy |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/26/1234005058/what-we-know-about-the-airman-who-immolated-himself-in-front-of-the-israeli-emba |access-date=February 28, 2024 |work=NPR |date=February 26, 2024 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228031508/https://www.npr.org/2024/02/26/1234005058/what-we-know-about-the-airman-who-immolated-himself-in-front-of-the-israeli-emba |url-status=live}} On February 25, 2024, 10:54 a.m. local time, the morning of his self-immolation, Bushnell had posted a message on Facebook: "Many of us like to ask ourselves, 'What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now." He sent a message to media outlets: "Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people."

At approximately 12:58 p.m. local time, Bushnell, dressed in military fatigues,{{cite news |last1=Kube |first1=Courtney |last2=Lenthang |first2=Marlene |last3=Siemaszko |first3=Corky |title=U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C. has died |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=NBC News |date=February 26, 2024 |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226220147/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455 |url-status=live}} approached the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., intending to immolate himself as an act of protest against the Gaza war. He had created a Twitch account under the name "LillyAnarKitty" with a Palestinian flag as his profile banner and the caption "Free Palestine."{{cite news |last=Nieto |first=Phillip |date=February 25, 2024 |title=Air Force Service Member Dies After Setting Himself On Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Protest of Gaza War |url=https://www.mediaite.com/news/air-force-service-member-sets-himself-on-fire-outside-israeli-embassy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226033225/https://www.mediaite.com/news/air-force-service-member-sets-himself-on-fire-outside-israeli-embassy/ |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Mediaite}}{{cite news |title="This Is What Our Ruling Class Has Decided Will Be Normal" On Aaron Bushnell's Action in Solidarity with Gaza |date=February 26, 2024 |work=CrimethInc |url=https://crimethinc.com/2024/02/26/this-is-what-our-ruling-class-has-decided-will-be-normal-on-aaron-bushnells-action-in-solidarity-with-gaza |access-date=February 27, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227041331/https://crimethinc.com/2024/02/26/this-is-what-our-ruling-class-has-decided-will-be-normal-on-aaron-bushnells-action-in-solidarity-with-gaza |archive-date=February 27, 2024}} While live-streaming, he walked towards the embassy and said:

{{Blockquote|text=I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force. And I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers—it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.{{cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Usaid |last2=Osgood |first2=Brian |title=Israel failed to comply with ICJ genocide orders in Gaza: Rights groups |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/26/israels-war-on-gaza-live-man-made-disaster-as-israel-blocks-food-aid |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Al Jazeera |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226003706/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/26/israels-war-on-gaza-live-man-made-disaster-as-israel-blocks-food-aid |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Seligman |first1=Lara |last2=Berg |first2=Matt |title=Air Force member dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/26/air-force-member-fire-death-israeli-embassy-00143269 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Politico |date=February 26, 2024 |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226142536/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/26/air-force-member-fire-death-israeli-embassy-00143269 |url-status=live}}}}

Outside the embassy, Bushnell placed his camera down, positioned himself in front of the gates,{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Mataeo |title=US Airman who set himself on fire outside Israeli embassy pictured as he dies |url=https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/airman-aaron-bushnell-who-set-360043 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=The Mirror US |date=February 27, 2024 |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227024252/https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/airman-aaron-bushnell-who-set-360043 |url-status=live}} and poured a flammable liquid over himself. A security officer approached Bushnell, asking if he needed help, but was ignored.

After igniting himself, Bushnell repeatedly shouted "Free Palestine!" as he was burning, and eventually collapsed to the ground.{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Emily |last2=Rempfer |first2=Kyle |last3=Lamothe |first3=Dan |name-list-style=and |date=February 25, 2024 |title=Active-duty airman sets himself on fire outside D.C.'s Israeli Embassy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/25/dc-israeli-embassy-man-fire/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240226031644/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/25/dc-israeli-embassy-man-fire/ |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |quote=shows him referring to his service in the U.S. armed forces and shouting "Free Palestine" as he burned.}}{{cite news |title=US airman sets himself on fire outside Israel embassy to protest 'genocide' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/us-airman-sets-self-on-fire-in-protest-over-israels-genocide-in-gaza |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Al Jazeera |date=February 26, 2024 |quote=He then lit himself on fire while yelling "Free Palestine!" until he fell to the ground. |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226051913/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/us-airman-sets-self-on-fire-in-protest-over-israels-genocide-in-gaza |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Diver |first1=Tony |last2=Hamblin |first2=Andrea |name-list-style=and |date=February 26, 2024 |title=US military officer sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/02/26/israel-embassy-washington-gaza-free-palestine-air-force/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240226043036/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/02/26/israel-embassy-washington-gaza-free-palestine-air-force/ |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph |quote=The man was reportedly filmed standing outside the embassy wearing a military uniform and shouting "Free Palestine" as he burned.}} The security officer radioed in for assistance. A Secret Service officer approached the scene, aimed a gun at Bushnell off-camera, and ordered him to "get on the ground" multiple times while a police officer yelled: "I don't need guns, I need fire extinguishers!"{{cite news |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Who is Aaron Bushnell? US airman sets himself on fire by Israeli embassy |url=https://www.newsweek.com/who-aaron-bushnell-us-airman-fire-israeli-embassy-washington-dc-palestine-1873212 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226101737/https://www.newsweek.com/aaron-bushnell-final-message-fire-israeli-embassy-washington-dc-1873242 |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Newsweek}}

Multiple officers responded to the scene and used fire extinguishers on Bushnell. He was transported to a local hospital by the DC Fire & EMS. At 8:06 p.m. local time, about seven hours after his self-immolation, Bushnell was declared dead from his burn injuries.{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Emily |last2=Hermann |first2=Peter |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/26/israeli-embassy-airman-fire-death-gaza/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240227050205/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/26/israeli-embassy-airman-fire-death-gaza/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Kika |first=Thomas |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Aaron Bushnell GoFundMe Account Taken Down |url=https://www.newsweek.com/aaron-bushnell-gofundme-taken-down-1874031 |work=Newsweek |access-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228035251/https://www.newsweek.com/aaron-bushnell-gofundme-taken-down-1874031 |url-status=live}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/aaron-bushnells-act-of-political-despair|title=Aaron Bushnell's Act of Political Despair|journal=New Yorker|date=February 28, 2024|last=Gessen|first=Masha|access-date=February 29, 2024|archive-date=February 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229052444/https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/aaron-bushnells-act-of-political-despair|url-status=live}}

The Secret Service, Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced they would investigate the incident. The Metropolitan Police refused to confirm the authenticity of the livestream, and the US Air Force cited family notification policies while refusing to speak initially on the situation. A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to investigate concerns of a suspicious vehicle that could have been connected to Bushnell. The area was later declared safe after nothing hazardous was discovered.{{cite news|last1=Geoghegan |first1=Tom |last2=Epstein |first2=Kayla |last3=Wendling |first3=Mike |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Aaron Bushnell: US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68405119 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=BBC News |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226132710/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68405119 |url-status=live}}

A public incident report given to reporters by the Metropolitan Police Department states that Bushnell was "exhibiting signs of mental distress"—namely that he had "doused himself with an unidentified liquid and set himself on fire"—before the Secret Service could reach him.{{cite news |last=Norton |first=Tom |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Aaron Bushnell death report reveals police call about 'mental distress' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/aaron-bushnell-death-report-reveals-police-call-about-mental-distress-1873386 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Newsweek |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226163709/https://www.newsweek.com/aaron-bushnell-death-report-reveals-police-call-about-mental-distress-1873386 |url-status=live}} A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy reported that no staff members were injured in the incident.{{cite news |last=Samuels |first=Ben |date=February 26, 2024 |title=U.S. Soldier Fatally Set Himself on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Protest of American Support of Gaza War |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-02-26/ty-article/.premium/u-s-soldier-fatally-set-himself-on-fire-outside-israeli-embassy-in-protest-of-gaza-war/0000018d-e603-d972-a5bf-ef07ea920000 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Haaretz |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226164131/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-02-26/ty-article/.premium/u-s-soldier-fatally-set-himself-on-fire-outside-israeli-embassy-in-protest-of-gaza-war/0000018d-e603-d972-a5bf-ef07ea920000 |url-status=live}}

Asked by the Associated Press whether "Bushnell's self-immolation might indicate that there is a deeper issue" with US military personnel being concerned about how weapons are used, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick S. Ryder reaffirmed US support for Israel's operations.{{cite news |title=Pentagon reaffirms support for Israel after US airman's self-immolation |date=February 26, 2024 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/26/israels-war-on-gaza-live-man-made-disaster-as-israel-blocks-food-aid?update=2734608 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=Al Jazeera |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227012503/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/26/israels-war-on-gaza-live-man-made-disaster-as-israel-blocks-food-aid?update=2734608 |url-status=live}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voMfxQ-w1C4 |title=Pentagon Responds Following US Airman's Death After He Set Himself On Fire Outside Israeli Embassy |publisher=Forbes |date=February 27, 2024 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227123206/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voMfxQ-w1C4 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3687510/pentagon-press-secretary-air-force-maj-gen-pat-ryder-holds-a-press-briefing/ |website=United States Department of Defense |access-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228000800/https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3687510/pentagon-press-secretary-air-force-maj-gen-pat-ryder-holds-a-press-briefing/ |url-status=live}}

The day after Bushnell's death, Senator Bernie Sanders said, "It's obviously a terrible tragedy, but I think it speaks to the depths of despair that so many people are feeling now about the horrific humanitarian disaster taking place in Gaza, and I share those deep concerns."{{cite news |last1=Zurick |first1=Maura |last2=Rouhandeh |first2=Alex J. |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Bernie Sanders breaks silence on Aaron Bushnell self-immolation |url=https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-breaks-silence-aaron-bushnell-self-immolation-1873586 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=Newsweek |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227185623/https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-breaks-silence-aaron-bushnell-self-immolation-1873586 |url-status=live}} On March 7, Senator Tom Cotton, who said that Bushnell committed an "act of horrific violence—in support of a terrorist group",{{Cite news|url=https://theintercept.com/2024/03/07/aaron-bushnell-fbi-anarchism-extremist/|title=Will Aaron Bushnell's Death Trigger Anarchism Witch Hunt?|first=Ken|last=Klippenstein|work=The Intercept|date=March 7, 2024|access-date=March 22, 2024|archive-date=March 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319213156/https://theintercept.com/2024/03/07/aaron-bushnell-fbi-anarchism-extremist/|url-status=live}} proposed two bills that would revoke the security clearances of people who express support for foreign terrorist organizations and codify by statute regulations that ban military service members from participating in protests.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newarab.com/news/us-senator-tom-cotton-wants-punish-next-aaron-bushnell|title=Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton wants to crackdown on the next 'Hamas sympathiser Aaron Bushnell'|work=The New Arab|date=March 8, 2024|access-date=March 22, 2024|archive-date=March 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309031341/https://www.newarab.com/news/us-senator-tom-cotton-wants-punish-next-aaron-bushnell|url-status=live}}

File:101.101.Gather.AaronBushnellVigil.WDC.26February2024 (53586727026) (crop).jpg

After Bushnell's self-immolation, activists such as Aya Hijazi praised it, as did Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and independent presidential candidate Cornel West.{{Cite web |last=Roche |first=Calum |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Who was Aaron Bushnell, the US airforce member who died after setting himself on fire in Israel protest |url=https://en.as.com/latest_news/who-was-aaron-bushnell-the-us-airforce-member-who-died-after-setting-himself-on-fire-in-israel-protest-n/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=Diario AS |language=en-us |archive-date=March 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304010007/https://en.as.com/latest_news/who-was-aaron-bushnell-the-us-airforce-member-who-died-after-setting-himself-on-fire-in-israel-protest-n/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Aaron Bushnell death sees wave of US pro-Palestine support |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/aaron-bushnell-death-sees-wave-us-pro-palestine-support |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=The New Arab |language=en |archive-date=March 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304010006/https://www.newarab.com/news/aaron-bushnell-death-sees-wave-us-pro-palestine-support |url-status=live }}

Some on social media viewed Bushnell's act as heroic and sacrificial. Some Palestinians called him a martyr.{{Cite web |last=Blend |first=Benay |date=2024-03-16 |title='Everybody's fight': Palestinians hail the sacrifice of Corrie, Bushnell |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/16/everybodys-fight-palestinians-hail-the-sacrifice-of-corrie-bushnell |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403103450/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/16/everybodys-fight-palestinians-hail-the-sacrifice-of-corrie-bushnell |archive-date=April 3, 2024 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Al Jazeera}} Others said his act should not be praised or viewed as a legitimate form of political protest, warning about "copycats" who might imitate it.{{cite news |last=Stanton |first=Andrew |title=Aaron Bushnell called a "hero" for pro-Palestinian self-immolation |url=https://www.newsweek.com/aaron-bushnell-called-hero-pro-palestinian-self-immolation-1873454 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Newsweek |date=February 26, 2024 |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226180657/https://www.newsweek.com/aaron-bushnell-called-hero-pro-palestinian-self-immolation-1873454 |url-status=live}} Some called the public adoration and praising of his act a "death cult".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDyHZf25GuE |title=HERO? Aaron Bushnell MEMORIALIZED By Left Over Self-Immolation For 'FREE PALESTINE': RISING |date=February 28, 2024 |last= |publisher=The Hill |access-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229012755/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDyHZf25GuE |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=Silow-Carroll |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-03 |title=While pro-Palestinian supporters glorify a suicide, a ballot box protest gets results |url=https://www.jta.org/2024/03/03/ideas/while-pro-palestinian-supporters-glorify-a-suicide-a-ballot-box-protest-gets-results |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US |archive-date=April 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403103450/https://www.jta.org/2024/03/03/ideas/while-pro-palestinian-supporters-glorify-a-suicide-a-ballot-box-protest-gets-results |url-status=live }} Graeme Wood of The Atlantic wrote "Stop Glorifying Self-Immolation: The tendency to celebrate and encourage this behavior, or even to be moved by it, strikes me as deeply sick."{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Graeme |author-link=Graeme Wood (journalist) |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Stop Glorifying Self-Immolation: The tendency to celebrate and encourage this behavior, or even to be moved by it, strikes me as deeply sick |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-israel-palestine/677584/ |work=The Atlantic}}

Many who identified themselves as service members used gallows humor when discussing Bushnell online. Others were critical of Bushnell's commanding officers, believing they could have helped deter him.{{cite news |last=Cole |first=Myke |date=February 28, 2024 |title="Where Was His Leadership?" |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2024/02/aaron-bushnell-air-force-service-response-immolation.html |access-date=February 29, 2024 |work=Slate |issn=1091-2339 |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229161507/https://slate.com/human-interest/2024/02/aaron-bushnell-air-force-service-response-immolation.html |url-status=live }}

On February 26, 2024, more than 100 people attended a vigil in Bushnell's memory in front of the Israeli embassy.{{cite news |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Vigil for Aaron Bushnell held outside Israeli embassy in DC |work=Middle East Eye |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/vigil-aaron-bushnell-held-outside-israeli-embassy-dc?nid=344816&topic=Israel-Palestine%2520war&fid=503761 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227143232/https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/vigil-aaron-bushnell-held-outside-israeli-embassy-dc?nid=344816&topic=Israel-Palestine%2520war&fid=503761 |url-status=live}} Additional vigils were held in other American cities, some organized by the anti-war group Code Pink.{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Brooke |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Vigils held across US for airman Aaron Bushnell who self-immolated against genocide in Gaza |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/vigils-held-aaron-bushnell-who-self-immolated-gaza |work=The New Arab |access-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-date=February 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227143207/https://www.newarab.com/news/vigils-held-aaron-bushnell-who-self-immolated-gaza |url-status=live}} On February 28, 2024, a vigil was held outside of the Wyatt Federal Building in Portland, Oregon, by advocacy group About Face: Veterans Against the War, in which multiple veterans lined up and took turns burning their military clothing in front of a banner reading "Veterans say: Free Palestine! Remember Aaron Bushnell."{{cite news |title=Veterans Burn Their Uniforms at Vigil for US Airman Aaron Bushnell |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/veterans-burn-uniforms-vigil-us-123204314.html |access-date=February 29, 2024 |work=Storyful |agency=Yahoo News |date=February 29, 2024 |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229165611/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/veterans-burn-uniforms-vigil-us-123204314.html |url-status=live }}

Bushnell posthumously received the 2024 Sam Adams Award for Integrity in Intelligence for "performing a vital public service at the greatest cost—martyrdom—for truth-telling."{{cite web |date=September 19, 2024 |title=US Soldier Who Burned Himself to Death Over Gaza Wins Sam Adams Associates Award for Integrity in Intelligence |url=https://samadamsaward.ch/2024/09/us-soldier-who-burned-himself-to-death-over-gaza-wins-sam-adams-associates-award-for-integrity-in-intelligence/ |access-date=27 March 2025}}{{Cite web|date=September 19, 2024|title=US Soldier Who Burned Himself to Death Over Gaza Wins Sam Adams Associates Award for Integrity in Intelligence|url=https://consortiumnews.com/2024/09/19/us-soldier-who-burned-himself-to-death-over-gaza-wins-sam-adams-award/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=Consortiumnews}}

File:Self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc and Aaron Bushnell cartoon by Latuff (2024).jpg comparing Bushnell to Thích Quảng Đức]]

Hamas praised the act and expressed "heartfelt condolences" to the friends and family of Bushnell, announcing in a statement on Telegram that "he immortalised his name as a defender of human values and the oppression of the suffering Palestinian people because of the American administration and its unjust policies" and calling him a "heroic pilot".{{cite news |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Hamas blames US for death of 'heroic' airman Aaron Bushnell |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/hamas-blames-us-death-heroic-airman-aaron-bushnell |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=The New Arab |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227143229/https://www.newarab.com/news/hamas-blames-us-death-heroic-airman-aaron-bushnell |url-status=live}} The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine released a statement honoring Bushnell, calling his death "the highest sacrifice."{{cite news |last=Zhang |first=Sharon |date=February 26, 2024 |title=US Airman Aaron Bushnell Self-Immolates in Front of Israeli Embassy, Yelling "Free Palestine" |url=https://truthout.org/articles/us-airman-self-immolates-in-front-of-israeli-embassy-yelling-free-palestine/ |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=Truthout |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226233724/https://truthout.org/articles/us-airman-self-immolates-in-front-of-israeli-embassy-yelling-free-palestine/ |url-status=live}} Palestinian activist Mohammed el-Kurd called it a "call to action" to "undermine these regimes that are killing us."{{Cite AV media |title=Mohammad El-Kurd on the meaning of Aaron Bushnell's self-sacrifice for Palestine | date=February 28, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPCVrlIdrhY |access-date=March 2, 2024 |publisher=Middle East Eye |via=YouTube |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302160743/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPCVrlIdrhY |url-status=live }}

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted Bushnell's actions in two X posts made a few hours apart. The first called out the "West's disgraceful antihuman policies with regard to the genocide in Gaza". The second indicated the genocide in Gaza was too much for "that young person who was brought up in the Western culture."{{cite web |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Iran's Khamenei: Western culture and Gaza 'genocide' killed Aaron Bushnell |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-789523 |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229162009/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-789523 |url-status=live }} Writing in The Jerusalem Post, Seth Frantzman accused pro-Iranian social media accounts of exploiting Bushnell's act of protest in English-language media at the Iranian regime's behest.{{Cite news| last = Frantzman, Seth| title = How is Iran exploiting the self-immolation of US airman Aaron Bushnell?| work = The Jerusalem Post| access-date = March 3, 2024| date = February 27, 2024| url = https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-789129| archive-date = March 3, 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240303235722/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-789129| url-status = live}}

Officials in the Palestinian city of Jericho announced on March 10 that they had named a street in Bushnell's honor.{{cite web |last1=Graham-Harrison |first1=Emma |title=Palestinian town of Jericho names street after US soldier who set himself on fire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/10/palestinian-town-of-jericho-names-street-after-us-airman-who-set-himself-on-fire |website=The Guardian |date=March 10, 2024 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311050111/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/10/palestinian-town-of-jericho-names-street-after-us-airman-who-set-himself-on-fire |url-status=live }}

{{see also|Media coverage of the Gaza war}}

Some sources criticized mainstream media outlets' coverage of Bushnell's self-immolation for what they called attempts to "discredit" and "dilute" Bushnell's motive of protesting what he called the genocide of Palestinians. In an Al Jazeera column, Belén Fernández criticized The New York Times for not mentioning Bushnell's motive in the title of its report and Time for not elaborating on what she considers the "mentally disturbing" political reality of the U.S. backing Israel in the Gaza conflict.{{Cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/2/26/suicide-vs-genocide-rest-in-power-aaron-bushnell |title=Suicide vs genocide: Rest in power, Aaron Bushnell |work=Al Jazeera |first=Belén |last=Fernández |date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228234650/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions/2024/2/26/suicide-vs-genocide-rest-in-power-aaron-bushnell |url-status=live }} The Guardian argued that pro-Israel news outlets implied without evidence that Bushnell was mentally ill.{{Cite news |last=Gabbatt |first=Adam |date=March 4, 2024 |title='In America, it's viewed as too extreme': self-immolation as protest – and sacrifice |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/04/self-immolation-protest-sacrifice |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306195935/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/04/self-immolation-protest-sacrifice |archive-date=March 6, 2024 |access-date=March 7, 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}

In The Hill's commentary series Rising, Briahna Joy Gray pointed out that The New York Times was treating Bushnell asymmetrically compared to its coverage of Irina Slavina, a Russian journalist who died by self-immolation protesting the Russian government in 2020. The Times article about Slavina included the phrase "blaming government" in the title.

{{see also|Misinformation in the Gaza war}}

Shortly following Bushnell's death, a fabricated screenshot circulated on social media showing a Reddit account operated by Bushnell making the comment "Palestine will be free when all the jews [sic] are dead." Fact-checking website Snopes found the screenshot to be a hoax.{{cite news |last=Izzo |first=Jack |title=Is Antisemitic Post Attributed to Israel-Hamas War Protester Aaron Bushnell Real? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aaron-bushnell-antisemitic-posts/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |work=Snopes |date=February 28, 2024 |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301162157/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aaron-bushnell-antisemitic-posts/ |url-status=live }}

Several people posted public comments claiming that a man seen on video pointing a gun at Bushnell was an Israeli guard; he was actually a United States Secret Service member who was trying to ensure the safety of two others who were attempting to extinguish the fire Bushnell set.{{cite news |last=Norton |first=Tom |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Fact Check: Did Israeli guard point gun toward Aaron Bushnell's body? |url=https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-israeli-guard-point-gun-aaron-bushnell-1873678 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301011706/https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-israeli-guard-point-gun-aaron-bushnell-1873678 |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |work=Newsweek}}

Multiple X users published claims that the Israeli intelligence organization Mossad had mocked Bushnell's death. These turned out to be false claims based on mistaking a parody account for Mossad's account.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-26 |title=Israel's intelligence agency did not label the US Air Force an 'enemy' of the Jewish state |url=https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-mossad-air-force-enemy-israel-596187204627 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323225819/https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-mossad-air-force-enemy-israel-596187204627 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Mossad did not describe deceased US airman as 'enemy' |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.34KB9NL |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=AFP Fact Check |language=en |archive-date=March 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331110428/https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.34KB9NL |url-status=live }}

• On September 11, 2024, a man set himself on fire near the Israeli consulate in Boston.{{cite news |last=Ganley |first=Shaun |date=September 11, 2024 |title=Police investigating after person found with 'major burns' near consulate |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/burn-victim-boston-park-plaza-israeli-consulate/62166068 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WCVB-TV}} He was later identified as Matt Nelson, who posted a video on social media before the incident in which he referenced the "genocide in Gaza". Nelson died from his burn injuries on September 15.{{cite news |last=Farrar |first=Molly |date=September 25, 2024 |title=Man dies days after self-immolating near Israeli consulate in Boston |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2024/09/25/man-dies-days-after-self-immolating-near-israeli-consulate-in-boston/ |access-date=September 25, 2024 |work=Boston.com}}
• On October 5, 2024, Samuel Mena Jr., who identified himself as a journalist, set his arm on fire in front of the White House. He survived with non-life-threatening injuries as bystanders poured water and put the flame out with towels. Before the incident, Mena posted on social media slogans such as "End settler colonialism" and "From the river to the sea".{{cite news |last=Graziosi |first=Graig |date=October 5, 2024 |title=Pro-Gaza protester attempts self-immolation outside White House |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/pro-gaza-protester-self-immolation-white-house-b2624539.html |access-date=October 6, 2024 |work=The Independent}}

• Gaza war protests in the United States
• List of political self-immolations

{{reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline}}

{{Laureates of the Sam Adams Award}}

{{Gaza war}}

{{Israel–United States relations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bushnell, Aaron}}

Category:2024 controversies in the United States

Category:2024 in Washington, D.C.

Category:2024 protests

Category:2024 deaths

Category:2024 suicides

Category:21st-century history of the United States Air Force

Category:American activists for Palestinian solidarity

Category:American military personnel who died by suicide

Category:Anarchism in the United States

Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in the United States

Category:Anti-war protests in Washington, D.C.

Category:2024 in military history

Category:Deaths by person in Washington, D.C.

Category:February 2024 in the United States

Category:Filmed deaths in the United States

Category:Filmed suicides

Category:Israeli apartheid

Category:Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States

Category:Suicides by self-immolation in the United States

Category:Suicides in Washington, D.C.

Category:Suicides by self-immolation