Palestinian town names street after US soldier who set himself on fire

A West Bank city has renamed a road after the US soldier who self-immolated in protest against Israel’s assault on Gaza.

On Sunday the mayor of Jericho revealed a new sign for Aaron Bushnell St in front of a small gathering of people. Bushnell, a serving member of the US Air Force, set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington last month in protest against American support for its ally Israel in the Gaza conflict, saying he could “no longer be complicit in genocide”.

Bushnell “sacrificed everything” for the Palestinians, said Jericho mayor Abdul Karim Sidr.

“We didn’t know him, and he didn’t know us. There were no social, economic or political ties between us. What we share is a love for freedom and a desire to stand against these attacks [on Gaza],” he said.

Amani Rayan, a Jericho city council member, was quoted as saying by the Guardian: “He [Bushnell] sacrificed the most precious thing, whatever your beliefs. This man gave all his privileges for the children of Gaza.

“[Bushnell] wanted to light a strong spark, to reignite our cause,” he added.