(Image source from: Nytimes.com)
Local media reported on Wednesday night that an "act of anti-Semitic terrorism" resulted in the deaths of two employees associated with the Israeli Embassy in a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. The police took a 30-year-old man named Elias Rodriguez, a Chicago resident, into custody after he allegedly shouted, “Free, free Palestine.” Authorities in DC have initiated an investigation into the shooting, which occurred directly across from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, situated close to the museum. The Israeli Embassy has been in communication with local authorities following the incident. In response to the shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for increased security measures at all Israeli missions worldwide. According to an embassy representative speaking to CNN, the Israeli ambassador was not present at the scene at the time of the attack.
Tal Naim Cohen, the spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, issued a statement confirming that two embassy staff members were shot at close range during a Jewish event at the museum on Tuesday evening. "We trust law enforcement authorities at both local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and ensure the safety of Israel's representatives and Jewish communities across the United States," he remarked. Following the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump commented that “hatred and radicalism have no place” in the nation.
In a message on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared, “These terrible killings in D.C., clearly motivated by antisemitism, must end immediately! There is no room for hatred and radicalism in the USA. My condolences go out to the victims' families. It is incredibly sad that such events occur! God Bless You ALL!” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that authorities are actively examining the situation and will provide updates as they become available. “Two personnel from the Israeli Embassy were thoughtlessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are diligently investigating and gathering more information to share,” Noem said on X.
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, characterized the shooting as an “act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” asserting that targeting diplomats crosses a significant boundary. “The tragic shooting outside the Jewish Museum event in Washington, DC, which involved injuries to Israeli embassy personnel, represents a reprehensible act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Attacking diplomats and the Jewish community signifies crossing a red line,” Danon stated.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X, indicating that he had been informed about the shooting and stated that police were managing the situation. “My team and I have received briefings concerning the shooting that occurred tonight in downtown DC, close to the Capital Jewish Museum and our Washington Field Office. As we collaborate with MPD to respond and gather more details, please keep the victims and their families in your prayers. We will provide updates to the public as we are able,” he commented.
Ted Deutch, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, informed ABC News that his organization had hosted an event at the museum that evening. "We are heartbroken that an unimaginable act of violence occurred outside the venue," Deutch remarked. According to ABC, at least one victim was urgently transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition, as reported by various sources. US Attorney General Pam Bondi along with Interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, arrived at the site soon after the shooting, as noted in a tweet by Bondi.
Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, denounced the assault and promised that the offenders would be held accountable. "We strongly condemn the deaths of two employees from the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC. Our thoughts are with their families. This was an audacious display of cowardly, antisemitic violence. We will ensure that those responsible are found and brought to justice," he stated on platform X. Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the killings as "an act of terror" and affirmed that the United States and Israel will remain steadfast together.
"The appalling attack in Washington represents a shocking antisemitic act of terror that took the lives of two young workers from the Israeli embassy. I extend my deepest condolences to their families during this painful time and hope for the swift recovery of those injured. We in Israel stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Washington and across the United States, wishing comfort and strength to the entire embassy staff. The alliance between America and Israel will endure as we protect our peoples and shared principles. We will not permit terror and hatred to fracture us," he expressed on platform X.
Antisemitism is characterized by prejudice or hostility directed against Jews, which can take many forms, including violent acts against Jewish individuals, communities, or institutions, along with discrimination and animosity towards them. Recently, many antisemitic incidents have been reported across the globe. In the United States, the Anti-Defamation League documented over 9,300 such incidents in 2024, marking the highest figure since they began monitoring in 1979. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has contributed to a rise in these incidents in recent times.
Berlin, Germany (February 2025): A Spanish visitor suffered serious injuries in a knife attack at the Holocaust Memorial. The attacker, who is a Syrian asylum seeker, voiced intentions to "kill Jews." Melbourne, Australia (December 2024): The Adass Israel Synagogue was defaced with pro-Palestinian and antisemitic graffiti. Earlier this year, in May, Israel launched 'Operation Gideon’s Chariots', a significant ground campaign aimed at weakening Hamas’s military power and governing structures in Gaza. This operation has resulted in over 53,000 Palestinian casualties, per the figures reported by Gaza’s health authorities, and has faced international backlash due to humanitarian issues.
