Two employees of the Israeli embassy were killed in a shooting near an event at the Jewish Museum in Washington on Wednesday evening (local time), in an incident that U.S. President Donald Trump described as an act of "antisemitism."
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The two victims, a man and a woman, were shot and killed in an area near the museum, which was hosting a reception for young diplomats organized by the American Jewish Committee at the time.
Washington, D.C. police said the shooter was identified as Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Chicago, Illinois. Authorities stated that he had no prior criminal record or known affiliations that would have placed him under law enforcement surveillance.
According to U.S. media reports, the assailant fired about 10 rounds at close range, targeting the victims, and later sat near the entrance of the museum. Reports indicated that he had roamed the museum and opened fire before returning to wait by the door.
The attacker was reported to have shouted pro-Palestinian slogans and said, “I did this for Gaza.”
The FBI confirmed that the suspect “acted alone, with no information suggesting affiliation with any organization,” while Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith said there was "no intelligence indicating a terrorist act or hate crime in the city."
President Trump expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, posting on Truth Social: “The shooting stems from antisemitism. The horrific murders in Washington must stop immediately—they are undoubtedly fueled by antisemitism. There is no place for hatred and extremism in the United States, and it is tragic that such events still occur.”
Reactions poured in following the incident. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the shooting as “an antisemitic terrorist act,” writing on X: “Targeting diplomats and the Jewish community crosses a red line. We trust that U.S. authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the attack "was rooted in hatred and antisemitism that claimed the lives of Israeli embassy staff."
U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio condemned the attack as “a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence,” pledging to hold those responsible accountable.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar noted that Israel's representatives “are always at risk, especially during these times when the threat level is even higher.”
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the shooting as “a horrific murder in Washington” and “an antisemitic terrorist act.”
— (Al Jazeera)
