American soldier attempts to set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington

An American soldier was seriously injured while attempting to set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington on Sunday February 25, authorities announced. Emergency services rushed to the scene in response to a “call regarding a person burning in front of the Israeli embassy”, declared the capital’s fire department on the social network The Secret Service, the protection service for senior figures of the American state, had put out the fire. The man was taken to hospital with “serious life-threatening injuries”, assured the firefighters. An air force spokesperson confirmed to AFP that he was an active member, without giving further details.

For its part, the Israeli Embassy said that no staff members were injured in the incident and that the American serviceman was unknown”. Images, apparently broadcast live by the latter on the streaming platform Twitch, show him, in military uniform, declaring that he “will not be complicit in genocide” and dousing himself with liquid, American media reported. He then attempts to set himself on fire while screaming. “Free Palestine!” (“Liberate Palestine!”), until he fell to the ground. AFP was not immediately able to verify the sequence, the New York Times indicating that she has been removed from Twitch.