A video of a security officer training his gun on US airman Aaron Bushnell as he lies burning on the ground during his self-immolation protest in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC has gone viral – and judging by the comments, for many, it represents the twisted priorities that have led to the awful war in Gaza: placing security even before humanity. Many drew parallels to the treatment of Palestinians by Israel and its allies.
Out of respect, we have chosen to blur only to show a still – but it remains a powerful, disturbing image.
The unnamed officer, who could be an American policeman or an Israeli embassy guard, chose protocol over human empathy and kept his firearm aimed at Bushnell. Another security officer in the video can be heard shouting, “I need fire extinguishers, not guns!”
Bushnell had said he intended to engage in an “extreme form of protest” against his country’s aiding and abetting what he called genocide against Palestinians.
The U.S. has vetoed UN ceasefire proposals three times and has so far failed to use its leverage with Tel Aviv to halt the war.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the US has provided about 21,000 precision-guided munitions to Israel since October 7th, 2023 – including 2,000-pound ‘bunker buster’ bombs.
What are your reactions to this image?