BURSTThe Israeli Foreign Ministry said the shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside an event at a Jewish museum in Washington reflects an “alarming” rise in antisemitism seen since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel sparked the war in Gaza.
The two staffers at the embassy, identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were killed after being shot while leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday evening. A 30-year-old male suspect from Chicago was detained quickly after, having yelled “Free, free Palestine” as he was taken into custody.
“The murder of Yaron and Sarah at the AJC event in Washington D.C. reflects the alarming rise of anti-Semitic incitement since October 7th — fueled by false accusations against Israel,” the ministry said in a post on X.
The ministry pointed to Hamas for starting the war and for causing the continued suffering of Israelis and Palestinians, calling for the group to be held “accountable.”
In another post, the ministry said it is “shocked and horrified” by the attack but that it will not be deterred by “terror.”
“May their memory be a blessing,” the officials wrote about Lischinsky and Milgrim. “We embrace the grieving families during this painful time and will continue to support them always.”
Condemnations of the attack have poured in across the U.S. and the world.
President Trump denounced the attack, saying the suspect’s actions were “obviously” based on antisemitism.
“Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” he said in a post on Truth Social. “Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen!”
The suspect walked into the museum after allegedly shooting Lischinsky and Milgrim and was apprehended. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters after he was detained that officials believed there to be no active threat.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said at a news conference that the two victims were a couple who were about to be engaged.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke to Attorney General Pam Bondi after the killings.
“We are witness to the terrible cost of the antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote in a statement posted to social platform X.
The Anti-Defamation League reported last month in its annual report that antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high.
Wednesday's incident is being investigated as an "act of terror," according to FBI Director Dan Bongino.