Hamas and US leftists praise self-immolating airman as ‘immortal’ in Palestinian memory
Hamas and Left-Wingers Praise Airman’s Self-Immolation at Israeli Embassy
Palestinian members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement / Getty Images
Hamas, along with some prominent left-wingers in the United States, this week valorized an airman who lit himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., in protest of the Jewish state’s war in Gaza—with the terror group saying he would live “immortal” in Palestinian memory.
“The heroic pilot Aaron Bushnell will remain immortal in the memory of our Palestinian people and the free people of the world, and a symbol of the spirit of global human solidarity with our people and their just cause,” Hamas said in a statement Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera’s Arabic news platform.
Bushnell, a 25-year-old active-duty member of the United States Air Force, stood outside the embassy on Sunday and declared he could “no longer be complicit in genocide” before he poured a liquid on himself and set it ablaze, video showed. He yelled, “Free Palestine,” before he collapsed and police attempted to douse the flames. Emergency services then transported him to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Hamas added in its statement that President Joe Biden’s administration “bears full responsibility” for Bushnell’s death. The group also said Bushnell “gave his life to shed light on the Zionist massacres and ethnic cleansing against our people in the Gaza Strip.”
In addition to Hamas, a presenter on the Palestinian Authority’s official TV station made similar comments in a Tuesday broadcast.
“The fact that the American pilot Bushnell burned himself yesterday is nothing more than an expression of the growing anger among the American people against government policy, and it comes as a defense of humanitarian values and the justice of the Palestinian issue,” the presenter said in a translation Palestinian Media Watch provided to the Washington Free Beacon.
Before the Hamas announcement, a number of leftists in the United States, including two third-party presidential candidates, appeared to praise Bushnell’s suicide.
“Let us never forget the extraordinary courage and commitment of brother Aaron Bushnell who died for truth and justice,” independent candidate Cornel West said Monday on X. “I pray for his precious loved ones! Let us rededicate ourselves to genuine solidarity with Palestinians undergoing genocidal attacks in real time!”
Green Party candidate Jill Stein also took to X the same day to make a similar comment, attaching a picture of Bushnell in the act of self-immolation to her post.
“Rest in power Aaron Bushnell,” Stein wrote. “‘I will no longer be complicit in genocide. Free Palestine!’ May his sacrifice deepen our commitment to stop genocide now.”
Bushnell’s self-immolation appears to be the most severe act of protest in the United States since the beginning of the Gaza war. Earlier this month, protesters blocked major roadways in D.C., chanting such slogans as “Long live the intifada” and “Israel go to hell.” Demonstrators for the same cause also blocked bridges in New York City on Jan. 8. That same day, hecklers shouted down Biden during a speech at a black church in South Carolina, calling on him to support a ceasefire.
How have Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed their views on the act of self-immolation by Aaron Bushnell while also expressing sympathy for the Palestinian cause?
The Palestinian cause,” the presenter said, according to a translation by Palestinian Media Watch.
While Hamas and the Palestinian Authority praised Bushnell’s act, it also garnered support from some left-wing activists and organizations in the United States. In a statement, the American Muslim Alliance hailed Bushnell as a “brave hero” and condemned the Israeli government for its actions in Gaza.
“We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their legitimate struggle for freedom and justice,” the statement read. “The self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell is a tragic reminder of the urgency to address the ongoing violence and oppression faced by Palestinians.”
Similarly, the progressive organization Jewish Voice for Peace issued a statement expressing ”deep sadness and outrage” over Bushnell’s death, while also criticizing the Israeli government’s policies.
“We mourn for Aaron Bushnell and all those who have lost their lives in the struggle for justice and freedom,” the statement said. “We call on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its human rights abuses and to support the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation.”
However, not everyone on the left praised Bushnell’s act. Several prominent voices, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, condemned the act of self-immolation while also expressing sympathy for the Palestinian cause.
“While we must condemn all acts of violence, it is important to acknowledge the deep frustration and despair that lead individuals to such desperate actions,” Sanders said in a tweet. “The situation in Gaza is dire, and we must work towards a just and peaceful resolution.”
Ocasio-Cortez echoed similar sentiments, tweeting, “Acts of self-harm are rooted in deep pain and desperation. We must address the underlying causes of the conflict in Gaza and work towards a just and lasting solution.”
The self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell has sparked a heated debate and highlighted the deep divides within the left-wing movement regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While some view it as a desperate act against perceived injustice, others condemn it as an act of violence that does not contribute to finding a peaceful resolution.
Regardless of one’s opinion on this specific incident, it is clear that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a contentious issue that elicits strong emotions and diverse reactions. Finding a path towards peace and justice for all parties involved remains a significant challenge that requires open dialogue, empathy, and a commitment to understanding each other’s perspectives.
Palestinian members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement / Getty Images
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