Journalist Attempts Self-Immolation Outside White House to Protest Israeli Actions in Gaza

Washington, D.C. – A man who identified himself as a journalist set himself on fire outside the White House on Saturday, in an apparent act of protest against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.  The man, later identified as Samuel Mena Jr., was part of a pro-Palestinian rally in Lafayette Park when the incident occurred. 

Witnesses captured a harrowing scene as Mena ignited his left arm, raising it into the air while screaming in pain. Bystanders, along with Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police officers, rushed to extinguish the flames. Mena was quickly transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith. 

In a statement following the event, Chief Smith reiterated the district’s commitment to upholding peaceful protest. “District of Columbia has a long and proud history of peaceful First Amendment activities,” she said. “We will continue to support those who protest peacefully and safely and will hold accountable those who commit criminal acts.” 

Mena’s protest comes amidst growing global demonstrations demanding an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities such as London, Paris, Rome, Cape Town, and New York’s Times Square. Demonstrators are protesting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, and over two million displaced since last year’s Hamas attacks on Israel.  The Israeli government has denied accusations of genocide. 

A Wave of Protests Amid Warnings of Extremist Violence 

Mena’s protest echoes a similar self-immolation earlier this year. In February, Aaron Bushnell, a U.S. Air Force service member, set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Bushnell, unlike Mena, succumbed to his injuries. 

Mena’s act of self-immolation comes just days before the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel, which led to Israel’s intensified military campaign in Gaza. Federal law enforcement agencies have issued warnings about potential extremist violence around the anniversary, citing increased tensions. 

Mena’s Background and Social Media Presence 

In the hours leading up to the event, Mena had been active on social media. On his X (formerly Twitter) profile, he announced plans to attend a pro-Palestine rally and livestream from outside the White House. Mena’s posts indicated his firm stance against Israel’s actions, including a tweet that read “End settler colonialism,” accompanied by a photo of Mena standing in front of a Palestinian flag. 

Mena is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and identified himself as a photojournalist for AZ Family Channels 3 and 5. His protest has drawn attention to the deepening divide over Israel’s actions in Gaza and growing international pressure for a ceasefire.