In a tragic incident that has shocked many, two staff members of Israel’s embassy in the United States were shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night. The shooting, which occurred around 9 PM local time, has raised serious concerns regarding security and rising anti-Semitism in the US.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, both of whom were described as a couple planning to marry soon. According to Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, Lischinsky had recently bought an engagement ring intending to propose in Jerusalem.
Authorities have detained a suspect identified as Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Chicago, Illinois. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith reported that Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before he approached a group and opened fire with a handgun. Both Lischinsky and Milgrim were the targets of the gunfire, which Rodriguez reportedly accompanied with chants of “Free, free, Palestine” while in custody.
However, Chief Smith refrained from offering a detailed motive for the attack. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed reporters, firmly stating that her administration would not tolerate violence or hate in the city. She emphasized, “We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism,” pledging to uphold community solidarity against anti-Semitism in the coming days and weeks.
The incident has further fuelled fears among numerous community members who have expressed growing concerns over anti-Semitic sentiments rising in the United States. Al Jazeera’s Heidi Zhou-Castro noted that while the suspect is in custody, many people remain frightened by this development.
Additionally, a German diplomatic source revealed that one of the victims also held a German passport. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the shooting as a “heinous act,” while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed his shock, labeling it “treacherous” in a post on social media.
In response to the tragedy, the American Jewish Committee, which had hosted an event at the museum that evening, voiced their devastation over the violence that transpired outside the venue. US President Donald Trump also offered his condolences, attributing the killings to antisemitism. “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” Trump stated on Truth Social, emphasizing the sadness surrounding such a violent act.
Following the incident, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt relayed another message from President Trump, who expressed being both saddened and outraged over the brutal murder of the two Israeli embassy staff members. She referred to the victims as “a beautiful young couple” and reiterated that the Justice Department would seek to prosecute the suspect to the maximum extent allowed by law.
Leavitt underscored Trump’s commitment to combat anti-Jewish hate, specifically addressing ongoing efforts against pro-Palestine anti-war protestors, particularly among university students. “The evil of anti-Semitism must be eradicated from our society,” Leavitt emphasized, adding that hatred has no place in the United States under President Trump.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem assured the public that federal authorities are actively investigating the attack and will ensure that the “depraved perpetrator” is brought to justice. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, characterized the shooting as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” asserting that harming the Jewish community constitutes crossing a red line.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his shock at the incident and has directed Israeli missions globally to enhance security measures in response. Richard Weitz, a security expert based in Washington, DC, described the attack as a “well-planned assassination,” stating that the gunman had staked out the location meticulously before carrying out the shooting.
Weitz provided insight into the potential implications of the attack, suggesting that investigations may focus on possible flaws in security protocols, foreign connections, or anyone who may have assisted the suspect. He noted that while high-profile diplomats typically have security teams, it’s common for lower-level embassy staff not to receive such protections.
The tragic loss of Lischinsky and Milgrim raises critical questions about the safety of diplomatic personnel and the growing tensions that have led to hostile actions against members of the Jewish community in the US.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/22/shooting-occurs-outside-jewish-museum-in-washington-dc
