Journalist sets himself on fire at ceasefire protest in Washington as Gaza war nears first anniversary

Washington, United States

As thousands marched in the United States demanding an immediate ceasefire to the war in Gaza, one protestor in Washington attempted to set himself on fire.

Misinformation

The man, as per reports, succeeded in setting his arm ablaze before bystanders and police rushed to his aid and doused him with water. Some protestors extinguished his flames using their traditional Palestinian scarves — keffiyehs.

While lighting himself on fire, the man identified himself as a journalist.

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"I'm a CBS-affiliated journalist and we neglect it. We spread the misinformation," shouted the man, in between screams of pain as the fire on his arm was put out.

Watch the video here:

According to the police, the man had "non-life-threatening injuries".

Anniversary of Gaza war

This comes just ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent devastating war in Gaza that has already claimed over 41,825 Palestinian lives and 1,205 Israeli lives.

Across the world, people took part in marches on a worldwide day of action against the war. In Washington, over one thousand protestors demonstrated outside the White House, demanding an end to US aid to America's strategic partner, Israel. 

"The US government has really shown what side of history it is on," said Zaid Khatib, an organiser with the Palestinian Youth Movement, while talking to AFP. 

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"The US government has performed and co-signed the most evil atrocities that we've seen of this century."

Meanwhile, in New York, thousands marched in Times Square. Some of the protestors were seen carrying pictures of people killed in the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

Protestors spoke against their tax money being used to aid Israel.

"As an American, we're tired of our tax money going to Israel to bomb kids in Palestine and then Lebanon," said Daniel Perez, a New York resident.

In Los Angeles, protestors waved signs against the "genocide" in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies)