2025 killing of Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. workers

{{See also|Gaza war|Israel–United States relations}}

The Capital Jewish Museum, which houses the original building of Adas Israel Congregation—the oldest existing synagogue in Washington, D.C., dedicated in 1876—is a Jewish cultural institution that opened approximately two years before the attack.{{Cite news |last=Sweedler |first=Maya |date=May 22, 2025 |title=2 staff members of Israeli embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in DC |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-embassy-jewish-museum-shooting-10307b3b1a2a337e76730736b12ebbcb |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Segraves |first1=Mark |last2= |first2= |date=May 20, 2025 |title=Capital Jewish Museum receives DC security grant amid concerns about LGBTQ exhibit |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/capital-jewish-museum-receives-dc-grant-amid-security-concerns-for-lgbtq-exhibit/3918302/?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_DCBrand |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=NBC4 Washington |language=en-US}} It is less than a mile from Capitol Hill and about 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White House.{{Cite news |title=Washington DC shooting live updates: Two Israeli embassy staff killed and suspect in custody |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cy9vr10n732t |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Shortly before the incident, the museum received a grant intended to enhance security for local non-profit organizations. Museum leaders expressed safety concerns due to the museum's Jewish subject matter and a new LGBTQ exhibit.

The museum was the site of a conference hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for young professionals called "AJC ACCESS Young Diplomats Reception."{{Cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |last2=Thrush |first2=Glenn |author-link2=Glenn Thrush |last3=Cameron |first3=Chris |date=May 21, 2025 |title=Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Shot and Killed Outside Event in Washington, Officials Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/us/politics/israel-embassy-staffers-killed.html |access-date=May 21, 2025 |work=The New York Times}} According to the invitation, the gathering aimed to bring together "Jewish young professionals and the D.C. diplomatic community for an evening dedicated to fostering unity and celebrating Jewish heritage." JoJo Kalin, an AJC board member who organized the event, stated that it was centered on building a coalition to support Palestinians amid the ongoing war.{{Cite news |title=Washington DC shooting: Two Israeli embassy staff killed in attack near Jewish museum |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cy9vr10n732t?post=asset:632d9a8d-0ef0-4f23-a136-69ffc97b70bc#post |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite magazine |last=Zemler |first=Emily |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Shot and Killed Outside Jewish Museum in D.C. |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/israeli-embassy-staffers-killed-capital-jewish-museum-1235345742/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} The AJC described the event as a cocktail reception for professionals and diplomats focused on humanitarian diplomacy throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.{{Cite news |last=Sales |first=Ben |date=May 22, 2025 |title=2 Israeli embassy staffers shot to death outside DC Jewish museum event |url=https://www.jta.org/2025/05/21/united-states/2-killed-in-shooting-at-dc-jewish-museum |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=AJC ACCESS Young Diplomats Reception |url=https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ajc-access-young-diplomats-reception-tickets-1312062246499?c_src=wb_evt_20250522_AJCWashington,D.C. |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=Eventbrite |language=en-us}}

Israeli diplomats and embassy staff have been targeted by violence linked to the longstanding Israeli–Palestinian conflict by both Palestinian militants and state-backed actors. Additionally, since the October 7, 2023 attacks and start of the Gaza war there has been a sharp rise globally in antisemitism, along with violent incidents against Jews.{{Cite news |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Why the Gaza War Has Sparked a Wave of Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the US |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/why-the-gaza-war-has-sparked-a-wave-of-antisemitism-and-islamophobia-in-the-us-/7358885.html |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} The Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., has been the site of several protests since the war began, including the self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell.{{Cite news |last=Markoe |first=Lauren |date=March 28, 2024 |title='Until a ceasefire': Nonstop protest rocks the Israeli Embassy — and the neighborhood beyond |url=https://forward.com/news/597247/protest-israeli-embassy-ceasefire-neighborhood/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=The Forward |language=en}}

File:Capital Jewish Museum (53839144287).jpg in 2024]]

According to Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith, the suspect arrested at the scene of the shooting had been pacing outside the Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum before the killing.{{Cite news |last1=Gurman |first1=Sadie |last2=McGraw |first2=Meridith |last3=Beavers |first3=Olivia |date=May 21, 2025 |title=Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Shooting Near Jewish Museum in Washington |url=https://www.wsj.com/us-news/two-israeli-embassy-staffers-killed-in-shooting-near-jewish-museum-in-washington-3154646f |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 21, 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}

At approximately 9:08 pm on May 21, 2025,{{Cite news |last1=Frazier |first1=Kierra |last2=Milton |first2=Pat |last3=Triay |first3=Andres |last4=Tanyos |first4=Faris |date=May 22, 2025 |title=2 Israeli Embassy staff shot and killed outside Jewish Museum in D.C. |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/washington-dc-shooting-near-fbi-office/ |work=CBS News}} the suspect opened fire with a handgun on four individuals, two of whom—Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim,{{Cite news |last=Bachner |first=Michael |title=Victims of DC shooting are Israeli Embassy workers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-may-22-2025/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=liveblog_entry |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}} a couple and Israeli embassy aides—were fatally shot as they were leaving the museum. Israeli government officials said that other embassy employees were injured in the shooting.{{Cite news |last1=Hamblin |first1=Andrea |last2=Confino |first2=Jotam |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Starmer blamed for 'emboldening' anti-Semitic attackers |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/05/22/israeli-embassy-worker-shot-jewish-museum-washington-dc/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news |last1=Gedeon |first1=Joseph |last2=Tondo |first2=Lorenzo |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Washington DC Jewish museum |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/two-israeli-embassy-staff-shot-dead-near-washington-dc-jewish-museum-homeland-security-secretary |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

According to Smith, after the shooting, the suspect walked into the museum and was stopped by security staff before being detained. He was let in by a security guard who thought he was an innocent bystander and a victim.{{Cite news |last=Bunn |first=Curtis |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Israeli Embassy event organizer said she looked 'evil in the eyes' after interacting with shooting suspect |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/israeli-embassy-event-shooting-witnesses-rcna208512 |access-date= |website=NBC News |language=en}} Eyewitnesses in the museum said that the suspect looked distressed and had initially been helped and given water{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Two Israeli embassy staff killed by man chanting 'free Palestine' - police |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vgrkdje1ro |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=BBC News}} before he identified himself as the shooter, and asked for police. He was taken into custody.{{Cite news |last=Keene |first=Louis |date=May 22, 2025 |title=2 killed in Capital Jewish Museum shooting by suspect who shouted 'Free Palestine,' police say |url=https://forward.com/news/722236/capital-jewish-museum-dc-shooting-israeli-embassy/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=The Forward |language=en}} Videos from witnesses showed the suspect chanting "Free Palestine" and "Free, Free, Palestine" as he was being detained. Reportedly, he discarded the weapon used in the shooting but later told the police where it was located; the police then recovered the weapon.{{Cite news |last=Breen |first=Kerry |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Victims of fatal shooting at Jewish Museum in D.C. identified as young couple "in the prime of their lives" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/yaron-lischinsky-sarah-lynn-milgrim-washington-dc-israeli-embassy-jewish-museum-shooting/ |website=CBS News}}

The two victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were a couple. Lischinsky was a German-Israeli staff member at the Israeli Embassy, working for around two years as a research assistant with responsibilities that included monitoring developments in the Middle East.{{Cite news |last=אייכנר |first=איתמר |date=May 22, 2025 |title=דיפלומטים ישראלים ב"הלם מוחלט", זעזוע בעולם: "פשע אנטישמי מחריד" |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bkotuvnbxl#autoplay |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=Ynet |language=he}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title=What we know about Israeli embassy staff shooting in Washington DC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xgv4p114wo |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} Lischinsky had a Christian mother and Jewish father. Milgrim, an American Jew, had close Palestinian and Israeli friends. She began working at the Israeli Embassy at the end of 2023, coordinating travel to Israel.{{Cite news|last1=Herb |first1=Jeremy |last2=Liebermann |first2=Oren |last3=Kent |first3=Lauren |last4=Marquardt |first4=Alex |date=May 22, 2025 |title=They came from thousands of miles apart to DC and found love. Then tragedy struck. |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/22/us/lischinsky-milgrim-israel-embassy-shooting |work=CNN |access-date=May 22, 2025 }} Friends and colleagues of Lischinsky and Milgrim said they were both devoted to diplomacy and the peace process in Israel. The event they attended the night of the shooting was organized to discuss how "multi-faith organizations can work together to bring humanitarian aid to war-torn regions like Gaza."

Lischinsky had moved from Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany, to Israel at the age of 16 before relocating to Washington, D.C. to work for the Israeli Embassy.{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Shooting victim Yaron Lischinsky had a German passport |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-israeli-embassy-officials-gunned-jewish-museum-rcna208435/rcrd80067?canonicalCard=true |access-date=May 22, 2025 |publisher=NBC News}} He graduated from Hebrew University of Jerusalem with a degree in International Relations and Asian Studies. Lischinsky had served in the Israel Defense Forces according to Israel's ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor. Milgrim, who grew up in Kansas, had been active in the Jewish community while in college at the University of Kansas. She had moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue a master's degree and volunteered in Israel for a year with Tech2Peace, an organization that advocated for peace and dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis.{{Cite news |last1=Smith |first1=David |last2=Gambino |first2=Lauren |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Suspect charged with murder in shooting of Israeli embassy staffers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/israeli-embassy-staff-shooting-washington-dc |work=The Guardian |access-date=May 22, 2025 }} Milgrim worked in the Israeli Embassy's public diplomacy department, responsible for community relations. The couple likely met through their embassy assignments. According to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, the couple was planning to become engaged in Jerusalem the week following the event.

{{redirect|Elias Rodriguez|the Peruvian politician|Elías Rodríguez|the athlete|Elias Rodriguez (athlete)}}

Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old Chicago man, was arrested as the suspect after being apprehended by event security staff. He pulled out a red keffiyeh and chanted "Free, free Palestine!" as he was taken into custody.{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=2 staff members of Israeli embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in DC; suspect from Chicago |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/nation-world/2025/05/21/2-staff-members-of-israeli-embassy-killed-in-shooting-near-jewish-museum-in-dc |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |agency=Associated Press}} Initial reports state that Rodriguez had no prior contact with police.{{Cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Jasper |last2=Ward |first2=Jasper |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Two Israeli embassy staffers killed in Washington shooting, suspect held |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/two-israeli-embassy-staffers-killed-washington-shooting-2025-05-22/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=Reuters |language=en}}

Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with an English degree. He previously worked at the nonprofit healthcare American Osteopathic Information Association. He also previously worked as an oral history researcher at the HistoryMakers in 2023, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving African American histories. According to his deleted page from LinkedIn, he previously worked for other nonprofit firms.{{Cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Jasper |last2=Rose |first2=Emily |last3=Ward |first3=Jasper |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Two Israel embassy aides shot dead in Washington, officials say suspect shouted 'Free Palestine' |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/two-israeli-embassy-staffers-killed-washington-shooting-2025-05-22/ |access-date= |work=Reuters |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Who is Elias Rodriguez? Sole suspect in DC Jewish Museum shooting that killed 2 Israeli embassy staffers |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/who-is-elias-rodriguez-sole-suspect-in-dc-jewish-museum-shooting-that-killed-2-israeli-embassy-staffers/3853567/ |access-date= |website=Financial Express News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Bosman |first=Julie |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Suspect in Shooting of Israeli Embassy Staff in Washington, D.C., Had Protested for Palestinian Rights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/us/politics/israeli-embassy-shooting-suspect.html |access-date= |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The email address which he used to sign into the LinkedIn account was also used to register on Twitter. Variations of the same username were used on other social media sites, such as Clubhouse, which displayed Elias Rodriguez’s full name and face. His Goodreads account showed that he reviewed books on politics, slavery, the history of Chicago, and Maoism.

Rodriguez was briefly (in 2017) associated with the left-wing political party Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL),{{Cite news |title=DC shooting suspect Elias Rodriguez was member of far-left group |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/dc-shooting-suspect-elias-rodriguez-was-member-of-far-left-group/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}} however the Party stated that he was not a member, and that they had no contact with him for more than seven years.{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Elias Rodriguez: Socialist party denies links to D.C. shooting suspect |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/washington-dc-shooting-suspect-israeli-embassy-elias-rodriguez-b2755785.html |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=The Independent |language=en}} In 2017, the PSL's official newspaper, Liberation News, published an article which described a speech by Rodriguez at an anti-Amazon protest. A local news report from 2018 identified Rodriguez as a member of protest group A.N.S.W.E.R., a pro-Palestinian organization.{{Cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Jasper |last2=Rose |first2=Emily |last3=Ward |first3=Jasper |date=May 22, 2025 |title=FBI examines writings linked to suspect in killing of two Israel embassy aides |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/two-israeli-embassy-staffers-killed-washington-shooting-2025-05-22/ |access-date= |work=Reuters |language=en}}

The New York Times found pro-Palestinian signs in the window of a Chicago apartment occupied by Rodriguez, including one that said "Tikkun Olam means free Palestine". Other political signs from his apartment were discovered, some facing the street below. One sign called for a ceasefire, and another said "Free Palestine!" in handwritten letters. A third sign said "Justice for Wadea", referring to a Wadea al-Fayoume, a boy who was stabbed by his family's landlord motivated by Anti-Palestinianism.{{Cite news |last=Lonsdorf |first=Kat |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Here's what we know about the 2 Israeli embassy staffers killed in Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407572/israeli-embassy-staffers-killed-washington-dc |access-date= |work=NPR News |language=en}} While speaking with media, Rodriguez's neighbor, a 71 year old man, said that the signs in the window were his.{{whose}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kikog4yePzw |title=2 Israeli embassy staff members killed: Suspect's neighbor speaks to media |date=22 May 2025 |type=Video |publisher=FOX News |minutes= |time=5:50}}

{{Anchor|Manifesto}}

Journalist Ken Klippenstein published Rodriguez's alleged manifesto "Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home" – signed, which was originally posted on Twitter at 10 pm, hours in advance of his name being revealed by either authorities or any media.{{Cite news |last=Rosenfeld |first=Arno |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Manifesto posted on social media account tied to suspected Jewish museum shooter, who called to 'bring the war home' |url=https://forward.com/news/722545/elias-rodriguez-manifesto-dc-shooting/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=Forward}}{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Lengthy online statement appears to be manifesto by DC shooting suspect |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/lengthy-online-statement-appears-to-be-manifesto-by-dc-shooting-suspect/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=The Times of Israel}}

The alleged manifesto was shared in two posts on Twitter during the night of the attack and discovered by the investigative group Gnasher Jew. The manifesto, which was dated May 20, praised Aaron Bushnell, a soldier who self-immolated near the Israeli embassy the previous year. It also condemned the number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza war and suggested that the amount might be higher. The manifesto stated: "We who let this happen will never deserve the Palestinians' forgiveness. They've let us know as much".{{Cite news |last=Prinsley |first=Jane |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Elias Rodriguez manifesto: Suspect in Israeli embassy shooting called killing 'the only sane thing to do' |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/usa/washington-shooting-elias-rodriguez-manifesto-sane-lnvth096 |url-access=registration |access-date= |website=The Jewish Chronicle |language=en}} The manifesto called Israel a "genocidal apartheid state" and accused the American government of aiding it, stating that an "armed demonstration" against Israel is a "sane thing to do" for Americans. The manifesto claims that nonviolent protest has swayed public opinion but has not changed American policy. The manifesto also said that the Gaza war was the main motive behind the shooting and that his actions "would have been morally justified taken 11 years ago during Protective Edge", during which time he "personally became acutely aware of our brutal conduct in Palestine".{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Alleged shooter of Israeli embassy staff leaves behind 'manifesto' |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/alleged-shooter-israeli-embassy-staff-leaves-behind-manifesto |access-date= |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Bar |first=Neta |date=April 2, 2025 |title=DC shooter manifesto revealed |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/05/22/dc-shooter-manifesto-revealed/ |website=Israel Hayom}} The end of the manifesto expressed love for the author's parents, sister, and family, before writing "Free Palestine".{{Cite news |last=Joudeh |first=Nina |date=May 22, 2025 |title=DC police investigate online 'manifesto' linked to Israeli Embassy shooting |url=https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/dc-police-investigate-online-manifesto-35273310 |website=Irish Star}}

The Twitter account used to post the manifesto has existed since 2013, but made its first post in late October 2023, after the Hamas-led attack on Israel, including the hashtag "#FreePalestine". In 2024, the account shared a video of nightclub attendees calling for Tel Aviv to be bombed, described Israel as a colony that had to be "totally extirpated" over a video of Israeli pundits defending the war, and that it would be moral to truck bomb the office of The New York Times. Members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force are reportedly investigating the manifesto.{{Cite news |last=Weiniger |first=Gabrielle |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Washington DC shooting: Israeli embassy staff killed outside Jewish museum |url=https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/washington-dc-shooting-latest-news-jewish-museum-elias-rodriguez-zzm06gmfj |website=The Times}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Purported manifesto of DC shooting suspect appears online |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/purported-manifesto-of-dc-shooting-suspect-appears-online/ |access-date= |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the D.C. Metropolitan Police are investigating the killing.{{Cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Myles |last2=Harney |first2=John |date=May 21, 2025 |title=Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Washington Shooting |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-22/two-israeli-embassy-staffers-killed-in-washington-shooting |access-date=May 21, 2025 |publisher=Bloomberg News}} The suspect was interrogated by FBI and Metropolitan Police shortly after the shooting, his apartment was also raided by the FBI.{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2025 |title=What we know about the DC shooting where 2 staff members of the Israeli Embassy were killed |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-embassy-jewish-museum-shooting-9e77d16a88d634b0dde5b2455c96dddf |access-date= |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Hedgpeth |first1=Dana |last2=Davies |first2=Emily |last3=Brady |first3=Kate |last4=Bellware |first4=Kim |last5=Rosenzweig-Ziff |first5=Dan |last6=Hilton |first6=Jasmine |last7=Bisset |first7=Victoria |last8=Rubin |first8=Shira |last9=Soroka |first9=Lior |date=May 22, 2025 |title=D.C. Jewish Museum shooting shows signs of 'targeted violence' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/05/22/israeli-embassy-staff-dc-shooting-capital-jewish-museum/ |access-date= |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Police tape was seen placed on the entrance of the apartment complex in which the suspect lived, it was surrounded by operatives with long guns and FBI agents who took supplies into the building.{{Cite news |last=Tellez |first=Roseanne |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Feds raid Chicago home of suspect in deadly shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers |url=https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/elias-rodriguez-fbi-raid-chicago-home-israel |access-date= |website=FOX 32 Chicago |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=May 22, 2025 |title=FBI surrounds Chicago home of suspected gunman behind Jewish Museum shooting in D.C. |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/fbi-surrounds-chicago-home-of-suspected-gunman-behind-jewish-museum-shooting-in-d-c/3751685/ |access-date= |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}

According to The Washington Post, authorities initially believed the suspect had specifically targeted the event at the museum, but had not singled out any single individual before arriving at the scene. Steven J. Jensen, an assistant director of FBI in Washington, said that the shooting will be investigated as a possible hate crime.

The attack was described by Michael D. Shear in The New York Times as "an extreme example of what law enforcement officials and others call a global surge in antisemitic incidents" that emerged after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.{{Cite news |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=2025-05-22 |title=Shooting Outside D.C. Jewish Museum Is Part of Global Surge in Antisemitism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/world/europe/shooting-dc-jewish-museum-antisemitism.html |access-date=2025-05-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the acts via a post on Truth Social shortly after the shooting, stating: "These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!". He added that "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA."

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem{{Cite news |last=Jeong |first=Andrew |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Two Israeli Embassy staff killed near Capital Jewish Museum in D.C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/05/21/dc-shooting-capital-jewish-museum/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} and United States Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to prosecute the suspect.{{Cite magazine |last=Jeyaretnam |first=Miranda |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Breaking: Israeli Embassy Staff Killed in D.C. Shooting |url=https://time.com/7287740/washington-dc-shooting-israel-embassy-jewish-museum-suspects-victims-investigation/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |magazine=Time |language=en}}

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the killings, as did Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson also condemned the shooting, calling it a "horrific attack, obviously an antisemitic attack".{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=House Speaker Mike Johnson condemns attack as 'horrific' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-israeli-embassy-officials-gunned-jewish-museum-rcna208435/rcrd80069?canonicalCard=true |access-date=May 22, 2025 |publisher=NBC News}}

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani wrote that he was "horrified" by the shooting and condemned antisemitism, as did Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, all three harsh critics of Israel.{{Cite web |last=Sales |first=Ben |date=2025-05-22 |title='More Elias': These people are celebrating the Capital Jewish Museum shooting |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/722647/more-elias-these-people-are-celebrating-the-capital-jewish-museum-shooting/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=The Forward |language=en}}

Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the killings "anti-Semitic terrorism". Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote that Israel and the U.S. "will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us."{{Cite news |last=Blackburn |first=Alex Marquardt, Gabe Cohen, Holmes Lybrand, Kaanita Iyer, Piper Hudspeth |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Two Israeli Embassy staff members killed outside Jewish museum in Washington, DC |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/politics/individuals-connected-to-israeli-embassy-shot-in-dc-sources-says |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2025 |title=2 Israeli embassy staffers killed near D.C. Jewish museum; suspect in custody |url=https://www.wptv.com/us-news/crime/two-israeli-embassy-staff-killed-near-jewish-museum-in-d-c |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm |language=en}} Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack.{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=Israeli leader Netanyahu's office says he is 'shocked' by the DC shooting of embassy staffers |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/israel-netanyahu-shocked-dc-shooting-embassy-staffers/3919377/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=NBC4 Washington |language=en-US}} He said that he ordered strengthened security at Israeli embassies worldwide.{{Cite news |last1=Falconer |first1=Rebecca |last2=Ravid |first2=Barak |date=May 22, 2025 |title=2 Israeli Embassy staff killed in shooting near Capital Jewish Museum in D.C., officials say |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/05/22/israeli-embassy-staff-killed-shooting-capital-jewish-museum-dc |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=Axios |language=en}}

Other nations and groups to condemn the killings included the European Union,{{Cite news |title=EU top diplomat 'shocked' by Washington Jewish museum shooting |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/eu-top-diplomat-shocked-by-washington-jewish-museum-shooting/ |work=The Times of Israel}} France,{{Cite news |title=France Condemns 'Abhorrent Act Of Anti-Semitic Barbarity' In Washington |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/france-condemns-abhorrent-act-of-anti-semitic-barbarity-in-washington-b5431cc4 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=Barron's |language=en-us |agency=Agence France-Presse}} Germany,{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Germany's Merz 'Strongly Condemns' 'Despicable' Washington Shooting |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/germany-s-merz-strongly-condemns-despicable-washington-shooting-4a25daf9 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=barrons |language=en-us |agency=Agence France-Presse}} India,{{cite news|url=https://ddnews.gov.in/en/jaishankar-condemns-killing-of-israeli-diplomats-in-washington-expresses-solidarity-with-israel/|title=Jaishankar Condemns Killing Of Israeli Diplomats In Washington, Expresses Solidarity With Israel|newspaper=DD News|date=May 22, 2025|access-date=May 23, 2025}} Italy,{{Cite news |title=Italy Condemns 'Scenes Of Terror And Violence' In Washington |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/italy-condemns-scenes-of-terror-and-violence-in-washington-f3c35948 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=Barron's |language=en-us |agency=Agence France-Presse}} the United Arab Emirates,{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2025 |title=UAE 'strongly condemns' shooting of Israeli embassy staff in Washington |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/uae-strongly-condemns-shooting-of-israeli-embassy-staff-in-washington/ |work=The Times of Israel}} and the United Kingdom.{{Cite news |title=Lammy condemns 'appalling' killing of Israeli embassy staff in Washington |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/david-lammy-israeli-washington-donald-trump-prime-minister-b1229178.html |work=The Weekly Standard}}

• List of attacks against Israeli embassies and diplomats
• 2025 Pennsylvania Governor's Residence arson attack

{{Reflist}}

{{Gaza war}}

Category:2025 in Judaism

Category:2025 in Washington, D.C.

Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in the United States

Category:Attacks in the United States in 2025

Category:Deaths by firearm in Washington, D.C.

Category:Jews and Judaism in Washington, D.C.

Category:May 2025 crimes in the United States

Category:Pro-Palestinian political violence

Category:21st-century attacks on Jewish institutions in the United States