West Bank city renames street in honour of US serviceman who self-immolated
The city of Jericho in the occupied West Bank on Sunday unveiled a street named in honour of a US Air Force serviceman who self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in protest against the Gaza war.
Jericho Mayor Abdul Sidr told a crowd gathered for the naming ceremony that Aaron Bushnell had “sacrificed everything” for the Palestinian cause. “We did not know him and he did not know us,” Mr Sidr said. “There were no social, economic or political ties between us. What we share is a love for freedom and a desire to stand against these attacks.”
The city has also dedicated a square to South Africa in recognition of its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Mr Bushnell set himself on fire last month while shouting “free Palestine”. Authorities rushed to put out the flames but he died in hospital that evening. Before dousing himself in a flammable liquid, Mr Bushnell had filmed himself saying he was “about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonisers, it’s not extreme at all”.
“This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal,” he added.
Mr Bushnell’s actions were praised internationally by many supporters of the Palestinian
cause, despite significant speculation over the state of his mental health.
“We need more people like you alive. Brave, challenging voices, ones that are unwavering in their recognition of justice,” wrote Palestinian-American journalist Mariam Barghouti on social media the day after Mr Bushnell’s death.
US philosopher Cornel West said: “Let us never forget the extraordinary courage and commitment of brother Aaron Bushnell who died for truth and justice. I pray for his precious loved ones. Let us rededicate ourselves to genuine solidarity with Palestinians undergoing genocidal attacks in real time.”
Mr Bushnell’s self-immolation was also lauded by Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza, who said he would “remain immortal”.
Hamas officials said the administration of US President Joe Biden and its support for Israel were the cause of Mr Bushnell’s death.