Two US military airmen seek to become conscientious objectors over Gaza war

Months after US airman Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire to protest against the war, two others are protesting.

Two active members of the United States Air Force wish to leave military service and become conscientious objectors over Washington’s support for the Israeli military in Gaza.

Larry Hebert and Juan Bettancourt say they no longer wish to serve the US military due to its role in the war, which has killed more than 37,400 Palestinians, mostly children and women.

They have officially requested, through an existing procedure in the military, to become conscientious objectors, people who refuse to participate in military service on ethical or moral grounds.

Hebert, a senior airman on active duty in the US Air Force, told Al Jazeera there is a long history of conscientious objectors from the US, including in protest against the wars in Vietnam and Iraq.

He said he hopes to highlight that becoming a conscientious objector is an option for other active-duty US soldiers.

“I think a lot of service members don’t actually know entirely what it is and what their rights are,” he said.

While on leave from duty in April, Hebert protested outside the White House, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the end of shipments of US weapons to Israel.

Larry Hebert, Sr. Airman, USAF, inspired by Aaron Bushnell, is in his second week of a Fast for Gaza. This week he’ll be outside the Capitol, talking with many people and handing out the attached flyer. pic.twitter.com/3JmNavKnnJ

— Veterans For Peace (@VFPNational) April 8, 2024

Hebert had earlier told US broadcaster NBC News that the death of six-year-old Hind Rajab in February was a turning point.

Rajab’s family car was targeted by Israeli tanks and she begged for rescue in a phone call as she was stranded inside the car with her dead relatives.

“She looks almost just like my daughter, and that was something that was extremely hard to grasp, is that all these children that have aspirations and dreams and lives that many of us are living and want, and it’s wholly unjustified to support what’s happening,” Hebert told NBC News, adding that he worked on a US operation to provide weapons sales to Israel.

Airman Juan Bettancourt also said he could not support the US’s role after watching Gaza news.

“I see the slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians all while the world watches through their smartphones,” Bettancourt told NBC, which reported the air force has acted on 36 conscientious objector applications since the beginning of 2021, 29 of which were granted.

By objecting publicly, the pair hope to influence the US’s position on support to Israel.

They have also been influenced by Aaron Bushnell, the US airman who self-immolated in February to protest against the Gaza war.

The US has provided thousands of large bombs, along with other munitions and equipment, as well as intelligence support, to the Israeli military since the start of the war on Gaza.

Those weapons, including 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs, have been repeatedly used in large-scale attacks that have killed many civilians, including in attacks on United Nations-run schools that are now used as shelters for displaced Palestinians.

But earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement strongly criticising the US for “withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel” in recent months.