A man, identifying himself as a journalist, attempted self-immolation on Saturday in Washington as a protest against the Israeli offensive in Gaza, during one of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that mobilized thousands in the United States, observed AFP journalists. In Washington, more than a thousand angry demonstrators, waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags, gathered in front of the White House, many demanding an end to U.S. military aid to its strategic ally Israel.
Nearly two hours into the demonstration, a man approached and attempted to set himself on fire, according to AFP journalists. He managed to ignite his left arm before passersby and police doused him with water and managed to extinguish the flames using keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves. "I am a journalist," he shouted, denouncing "disinformation," amid screams of pain once the flames were extinguished.
The police stated that his "injuries were not life-threatening." In New York, thousands also marched in solidarity with the Palestinians in the famous Times Square, some carrying photos of people killed by the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, a now-devastated territory. Among the demonstrators was Cornel West, a prominent human rights advocate and independent candidate in the U.S. presidential election on November 5. He explained to AFP that he was present "in solidarity" with the Palestinians "who are undergoing a vicious genocide." "Ethnic cleansing has been worsening for a year. We must continue to fight," he stated.
"As Americans, we are fed up with our tax money going to Israel to bomb children in Palestine, then in Lebanon," said Daniel Perez, a resident of New York. The war in Gaza was triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023. The death toll from this attack is 1,205, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, including hostages dead or killed in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Israel launched a military operation that has resulted in at least 41,825 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas government.
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