The airman, who filmed the incident and could be heard yelling “Free Palestine,” was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after collapsing to the ground.

The U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., in an apparent protest against the Israel-Hamas war has died, according to a U.S. official.

Next of kin notification is continuing, so the Air Force won’t release his name until 24 hours after the final notification is complete.

The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department responded to a call about a person on fire outside the embassy just before 1 p.m. Sunday, and found the flames extinguished by the Secret Service’s uniformed division.

  • DolphinMath
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    4 months ago

    We should not encourage others to commit suicide by making this man into a martyr. Regardless of the horrors being committed in Gaza, it is important to not glorify this type of protest. Suicide contagion is a real, documented, and dangerous phenomenon.

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      With all due respect, FUCK that. A man gave his life to send a message. I will honor him and his courage, and I will meditate on his message as a way of honoring him.

      • DolphinMath
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        4 months ago

        Nah, FUCK the mindset that suicide is noble.

    • PilferJynx@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Self immolation protest should be reserved for deaf ears and as a very last resort. This guy did not need to do this as everyone knows this is a bloody genocide whether you’re for it or not. The lines have already been set and his death won’t invoke any change of mind.

    • stoly@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      So someone going out on their own terms is wise to you than a genocide. Gotcha.

    • TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      No idea why your comment has been downvoted. I dare downvoters to self-immolate themselves if they think they have balls to protest like this.

      • doctorcrimson@lemmy.today
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        4 months ago

        I see you’re simultaneously for and against the sanctity and value of life depending on if it coincides with the message the airman wanted to spread.