Aaron Bushnell inspires protesters in Washington
Watan-The vicinity of the Israeli embassy in the American capital, Washington, witnessed escalating popular protests following the act of the American soldier burning himself in front of its gates, protesting against the Israeli atrocities in the besieged Gaza Strip and in a remarkable protest move to halt the war.
Just before carrying out his act, the American soldier, 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell, dressed in military attire, said in a recorded video broadcasted live on the internet: “I will not be complicit anymore in genocide.”
Bushnell poured a transparent liquid over himself, set himself on fire while shouting “Free Palestine” repeatedly. A spokesperson for the US Air Force confirmed that the incident involved a member of the Air Force on active duty.
Hundreds of protesters appeared holding candles in front of the Israeli embassy to mourn the American soldier Aaron Bushnell, while nearly 30,000 Palestinians were martyred in the brutal Israeli war against Gaza.
🛑 من امام السفاره الاسرائيليه في واشنطن
وقفه احتجاجيه على الاباده الجماعيه للشعب الفلسطيني والمطالبه بوقف مشاركة الجنود الامريكان في حرب الإبادة في غزه ووقف ارسال المساعدات العسكريه والمالية الامريكيه الي الكيان الصهيوني مرددين اخر عبارات الجندى الأمريكي
“فلسطين حره” pic.twitter.com/zAW3PDGsR9— 😡Egy_Shadow001😡 (@abo_heaba300) February 27, 2024
Some demonstrators held candles and roses in mourning for Bushnell‘s soul, and dozens wrote eulogizing words, including: “Aaron, your sacrifice will be appreciated, and your courage and strength will remain in our hearts, as you embody the best of humanity, rest in peace, hero.”
One participant wrote in Arabic: “May God have mercy on you, hero, and admit you to the gardens of bliss,” while others raised banners for Gaza and Palestine, stating: “His last words were ‘Free Palestine,’ and Aaron Bushnell, an American soldier, killed himself because of Israeli brutality, we will all remember you.”
Protesters emphasized that the soldier who took this bold step did so to witness the horror of fire and its brutality as it devours humans, fearing that the world would continue to ignore the reality of what American bombs are doing to the bodies of tens of thousands of children and women.
عشرات المتظاهرين ينعون الجندي الأمريكي آرون بوشنل في وقفة احتجاجية أمام السفارة الإسرائيلية في واشنطن العاصمة الآن.
— موقع أقلام حرة (@randmunaim) February 27, 2024
Another protester, as reported by American media, stated: “We are still witnessing unbearable acts of violence, and we are angry because the demand for justice and decent living for the Palestinian people is still met with indifference or outright hostility from those who have the power to act against it, and by those who have the ability to make a difference.”
The Israeli embassy in America has long been a target of ongoing protests against the war on Gaza, leading to massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the United States and many parts of the world.
