US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington

WASHINGTON/DUBAI/ CAIRO - A US airman has died after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC.

The man was identified by police as Aaron Bushnell, 25, of San Antonio, Texas.

Officers from the US Secret Service extinguished the flames before the man was taken to hospital on Sunday afternoon.

Before setting himself on fire, he said he would "no longer be complicit in genocide."

In a video aired live on a streaming site, Twitch, the man identified himself and said he was a serving member of the Air Force.

He said he was "about to engage in an extreme act of protest." After setting himself on fire, he repeatedly shouted "free Palestine."

Bushnell was taken to the hospital in a critical condition. The Air Force would not confirm details of Bushnell's service, citing family notification policies.

Before setting himself alight, Bushnell emailed a number of reporters and left-wing and anarchist news websites. The Atlanta Community Press Collective, a group that received the email, provided a copy to the BBC.

"Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people," the email reads, warning it would be "highly disturbing."

The Israel-Gaza war erupted on October 7 last year when Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israel, killing about 1, 200 people and taking 253 others hostage.

Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which 29, 300 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Meanwhile, Israel is ready to halt its Gaza attacks for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a ceasefire that could be signed as soon as next week, United States President Joe Biden said, though Hamas officials said his remarks were premature as it studies a truce offer.