US Air Force member’s Twitch channel suspended after broadcasting disturbing self-immolation outside the Israeli Embassy

US Air Force officer Aaron Bushnell gets banned on Twitch after conducting self-immolation on his live stream.

US Air Force member’s Twitch channel suspended after broadcasting disturbing self-immolation outside the Israeli Embassy

Aaron Bushnell (Image via X.com/TaliaJane)

In a shocking display of protest, Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old active-duty airman and Twitch streamer from San Antonio, Texas, tragically set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC. The video of the same went viral on multiple social media handles, eliciting a plethora of reactions online.

As expected, Bushnell’s act garnered worldwide attention and condemnation. It further led to people talking about US support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Gaza.

For context, born and raised in Washington, D.C., Bushnell was a graduate of the University of Maryland Global Campus, where he specialized in software engineering and computer science. He joined the US Air Force in 2020 and was on track to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

The incident, which occurred just before 1 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, was captured on video and live-streamed on Twitch by Bushnell. He can be seen approaching the embassy gates and then dousing himself in a flammable liquid and igniting the fire while shouting “Free Palestine.“

Eventually, they succumb to the flames. The incident was livestreamed on Twitch. 

Aaron Bushnell’s disturbing self-immolation protest leads to his death

Bushnell’s actions were preceded by an email to reporters announcing his intention to engage in an “extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people.“

US Air Force member’s Twitch channel was suspended after broadcasting disturbing self-immolation outside Israeli Embassy
Aaron Bushnell moments before self Immolation (Image via X.com/TaliaJane)

Furthermore, his self-immolation underscores the growing frustration and anger towards US support for Israel. This is because the ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to thousands of Palestinian deaths.

My name is Aaron Bushnell, I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force and I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.
Aaron Bushnell said while walking down the street

Despite efforts by authorities to extinguish the fire and rush Bushnell to the hospital, he was pronounced dead. Before this, a woman set herself on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, Georgia.

Moreover, these acts of desperation reflect the deep-seated grievances and mounting casualties in Gaza and Palestine in general. Big streamers such as Pokimane are also against Israel.

It has also become common to hate people who are pro-Israel. Criticism of the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel has intensified.

Despite mounting pressure and condemnation, Washington continues to supply Israel with weapons, including precision-guided bombs and bomb fuses. Moreover, Aaron Bushnell’s tragic act of self-immolation has started a conversation about what’s going on.

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