An unidentified man in Washington, D.C. was reported to be in critical condition Sunday after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in what may have been a desperate act of protest against the ongoing military assault and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The DC Police Department said in a statement that its officers responded to a call at approximately 1:00 pm local time “to assist the United States Secret Service after an individual set themselves on fire in front of an embassy in the block.”
The police said an “adult male was transported by DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition.”
The police did not provide any further details about the identity, motive, or condition of the man, who was seen engulfed in flames on the sidewalk near the embassy, located on International Drive NW, in the Woodley Park neighborhood.
Witnesses said that the man appeared to be alone, and that he did not say anything before or after he ignited himself. They said that they heard a loud scream, and then saw the man on fire, running and collapsing on the ground.
They said that some bystanders tried to help the man by using their jackets and blankets to extinguish the flames, while others called 911 and alerted the embassy security.
They said that the fire department and the police arrived quickly, and that they put out the fire and took the man away on a stretcher.
They said that the scene was shocking and horrifying, and that they did not know what the man was trying to achieve by his act.
The Israeli Embassy said in a statement that it was aware of the incident, and that it was cooperating with the authorities in their investigation.
The embassy said that it was “deeply saddened and disturbed” by the incident, and that it hoped that the man would recover from his injuries.
The embassy also said that it condemned “any form of violence and extremism”, and that it urged “all parties to exercise restraint and to seek peaceful and constructive solutions to the conflicts and challenges in the region.”
The incident occurred amid the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, which has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007.
Protest Against the War
The war, which began on October 7, after Hamas attacked Israel, in response to Israeli raids and evictions, has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians and 2000 Israelis, and injured thousands more, according to the latest figures from the United Nations and the Israeli army.
The war has also displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and caused widespread damage and destruction to homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in Gaza.
The war has also sparked protests and rallies across the world, including in Washington, D.C., where thousands of people have gathered to express their support for either side of the conflict, and to call for an end to the bloodshed and the suffering.
The U.S. government, which is a close ally and a major donor of Israel, has expressed its support for Israel’s right to self-defense, but has also urged Israel to de-escalate the situation and to pursue a diplomatic path to end the violence.
The U.S. government has also expressed its concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and has pledged to provide additional aid to the Palestinians.
The U.N. Security Council has also called for an urgent meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Gaza, and to appeal for calm and diplomacy.
The international community has urged both sides to exercise restraint and to resume dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-state solution that would ensure the security and the sovereignty of both peoples.
