Israeli Diplomats Killed In DC Shooting, As Backlash Over Gaza Bombardment Intensifies

Far-left activist Elias Rodriguez, 30, a former member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), shot and killed two Israeli diplomats, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.

The shooting occurred as the victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting and was later detained by event security inside the museum, during which he reportedly chanted "Free, free Palestine" as he was taken into custody.

Lischinsky, 30, and Milgrim, 26, were both staff members of the Israeli Embassy. The FBI and D.C. police are investigating the shooting.

Rodriguez was charged Thursday, with two counts of first-degree murder -- causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm; discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence; and murder of foreign officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attack, with Netanyahu calling it an "abhorrent antisemitic murderer" and Trump denouncing it as based on "obvious antisemitism" in a social media post.

The shooting comes amid heightened tensions and international criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in thousands of deaths.

Earlier Wednesday, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops fired several shots at a group of 25 diplomats visiting Jenin in the occupied West Bank, forcing them to run for cover. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for investigation from world leaders and ministers.

The delegation, representing 31 countries including Italy, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, the UK, China, and Russia, was on an official mission organized by the Palestinian Authority to observe the humanitarian situation in Jenin

Footage from the scene shows diplomats giving media interviews when shots were fired, causing them to flee in panic.

The Israeli military in a statement acknowledged that the visit had been approved but claimed the delegation "deviated from the approved route" and entered an area described as an "active combat zone," prompting the IDF to fire warning shots to distance them from the area. Israel has since apologized for the incident.

The Palestinian Authority and several European capitals, including France, have condemned the incident. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called it "unacceptable" and announced that France will summon the Israeli ambassador for an explanation.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that Italy’s deputy consul general in Jerusalem, Alessandro Tutino, was unharmed but demanded immediate clarification from Israel.

The European Union has expressed growing outrage, with calls for a thorough investigation into the incident.