Aaron Boshniel, a soldier in the U.S. Air Force, died from injuries sustained after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, according to officials, while local media reported that he was protesting the war in Gaza.

The fire department in the capital mentioned on the X platform that paramedics rushed to the scene just before 1:00 PM in response to "a call about a person on fire in front of the Israeli embassy." Upon arrival, they found that the Secret Service, responsible for protecting prominent figures in the U.S., had already extinguished the fire.

The department earlier stated that the man was taken to the hospital with "life-threatening critical injuries" and was in critical condition according to statements reported by the American newspaper "The Hill."

A spokesman for the Air Force confirmed to AFP that the man was an active member of the U.S. Air Force, without providing further details. Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy said that no member of its staff was injured in the incident and that the American soldier was "unknown."

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website (Ynet) on Monday that Boshniel, aged twenty-five, left a recorded message calling for the "liberation of Palestine."

American media reported that footage broadcast live by the deceased soldier on the Twitch platform showed him in military uniform announcing that he "would not be complicit in genocide," pouring a clear liquid on himself, then trying to set himself on fire while shouting "Free Palestine" until he fell to the ground.

It is noteworthy that Israel strongly denies allegations accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.

AFP could not immediately verify the footage, while The New York Times reported that it was removed from Twitch, but the video is still posted on the "X" site.

The Israeli embassy had been the target of ongoing protests against the war in Gaza. The war in Gaza has sparked pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations in the United States.