Washington (AP) – Two staff members from the Israeli Embassy in Washington were tragically shot and killed while departing a gathering at the Jewish Museum. Upon his arrest, the suspect proclaimed, “Free and Free Palestine,” according to police reports.
A shocking attack occurred on Wednesday evening, prompting the Israeli mission to boost security measures and lower its flag to half-staff. This incident unfolded on the same day Israel initiated a significant offensive in the Gaza Strip amidst ongoing conflicts with Hamas, escalating tensions in the Middle East and beyond, as incidents of anti-Semitism escalate.
The victims, identified as Israeli citizen Yaron Lisinsky and American Sarah Milgrim, were confirmed by the US Israeli ambassador, Yechiel Leiter.
Center Attorney General Pam Bondy walks to her car as law enforcement works on the scene after two staff members at the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot dead outside the capital Jewish Museum on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Lisinsky mentioned to attendees at the event he was at prior to the shooting that he was eager to return to Israel to observe the upcoming Jewish holidays, stated Ted Ducci, CEO of the American Jewish Commission.
Milgrim and Lisinsky were leaving the Capital Jewish Museum event when a suspect approached a group of four outside the museum and opened fire, according to Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith. This was revealed during a press conference.
The shooter, identified by police as 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, later entered the museum, where event security detained him while he chanted “Free and Free Palestine.”
“These shocking murders in DC, clearly motivated by anti-Semitism, must stop immediately!” President Donald Trump expressed on social media early Thursday. “Hate and extremism have no place in America.”
Law enforcement agencies worked on the scene after two staff members at the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot dead outside the capital Jewish Museum on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Israel’s response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his office was deeply shocked by the events on Thursday.
“We are bearing witness to the horrendous consequences of anti-Semitism and inflammatory rhetoric against Israel,” he commented in a statement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington will oversee the indictment in this case, led by former judge Janine Piro.
It remains uncertain if Rodriguez has legal representation available to comment on his behalf. Attempts to reach the phone number listed in official records have gone unanswered.
“Preliminary indicators suggest this was a targeted act of violence,” stated FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino via social media.
Israeli operations in Gaza
The influential Pan-Arab satellite station, Al Jazeera, was scrutinized after the shooting incident, broadcasting the event whilst dressed in a suit and slacks, with hands raised in surrender.
The conflict initiated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, led to over 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 hostages taken, causing extensive destruction throughout Gaza and displacing a significant portion of its inhabitants.
Since this outbreak, over 53,000 individuals, primarily women and children, have been reported killed by Israel’s aggressive campaign in Gaza, according to local health officials who have not differentiated between combatants and civilians. The conflict has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population, which was roughly 2 million, resulting in a crisis of hunger as a substantial portion of Gaza’s urban landscape has been annihilated.
Law enforcement agencies worked on the scene after two staff members at the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot dead outside the capital Jewish Museum on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
“In cold blood”
The filming continued AJC’s annual young diplomat event at the museum.
“Sarah and Yaron were taken from us,” remarked Deutch, AJC’s CEO. “The moments before their tragic deaths were filled with smiles, laughter, and shared joy with friends and colleagues.”
He described Milgrim, a native of Overland Park, Kansas, as “warm and kind-hearted, dedicated to fostering peace, and passionate about sustainability and human connections.” Lisinsky, he noted, worked in the embassy’s political department and expressed eagerness to celebrate the Shavuot holiday with family upon returning to Israel.
Witnesses Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were present in the museum when they heard the gunfire. Kalin recounted that people tried to assist him, unaware he was the shooter, bringing him water, thinking he was in distress. When law enforcement arrived, he brandished a red kefiyeh, a Palestinian scarf, and repeatedly shouted, “Free Palestine,” Kalin reported.
Two staff members at the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot dead outside the capital Jewish Museum on Thursday, May 22, 2025, and law enforcement is walking from the scene to work in the area.
“This incident was a severe blow to humanitarian assistance,” Kalin noted. “Is it possible for us to assist both the people of Gaza and Israelis? How do we unite Muslims, Jews, and Christians to provide aid to the innocent? Yet here he is, taking lives in cold blood.”
Last week, the Capital Jewish Museum, a local nonprofit, received funds from a $500,000 grant program to enhance security measures. The museum leader expressed concern due to its Jewish identity. This was amplifying with a new LGBTQ exhibition, according to NBC4 Washington.
“We are aware that threats are present,” executive director Beatrice Gerwitz informed the station. “As we tell these stories, we aim to make our space welcoming and secure for everyone visiting.”
In response to the shooting, the museum stated it was “deeply saddened and disturbed by the senseless violence.”
Israeli diplomats have historically been at risk of violence, faced from both perpetrators and Palestinian extremists amid decades of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict initiated by Israel’s establishment in 1948. The peace process between both sides, however, has languished for years.
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This report was updated to correctly state the suspect’s age as 31, based on revised information from law enforcement.
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Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press authors Alana Durkin Richer, Harry Golden, John Gambrell, Stephanie Dazio, and Natalie Meltzer.
Source: apnews.com