Washington: A woman protester draped in the Palestinian flag set herself on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta in the United States on Friday afternoon. The woman sustained serious injuries in what authorities say was “likely an extreme act of political protest.”
The woman arrived outside the consulate with a Palestinian flag in hand. She then draped herself in it and began setting herself on fire, police chief Darin Schierbaum said, reported The Daily Beast.
Schierbaum added that a security guard tried stopping the woman, but failed and was also injured. Subsequently, the flames were doused, and the woman was rushed to the nearby Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition with serious burns.
Schierbaum further emphasised the incident was not an act of terror, but was likely a form of protest against the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel, which began again on Friday after a week-long ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Anat Sultan-Dadon, the consulate general of Israel to the southeastern US, released a statement criticising the protester.
“We are saddened to learn of the self-immolation at the entrance to the office building,” he said.
“It is tragic to see the hate and incitement towards Israel expressed in such a horrific way. The sanctity of life is our highest value. Our prayers are with the security officer who was injured while trying to prevent this tragic act,” he added.
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