On the 22nd (local time), the couple consisting of Yaron Risinsky and Sarah Milgram, employees of the Israeli embassy, was shot dead in the heart of Washington, D.C., highlighting concerns that the antisemitic hate crimes triggered by the Gaza war could tragically intrude into the lives of civilians or spread globally.
The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, who was taken into custody at the scene, reportedly shouted "Palestine Liberation" immediately after the crime. Federal authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime and an act of terrorism.
According to Washington, D.C., police authorities, the two were shot after attending an event by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on their way home, near the Capital Jewish Museum.
Authorities revealed that the suspect had committed a premeditated act targeting Israeli diplomats while circling outside the museum.
According to FBI investigation data, Rodriguez fired 21 shots, killing the two, and confessed, "I did it for Palestine, for Gaza."
The victim Risinsky was a researcher for the Middle East and North Africa at the embassy. He was born in Germany but immigrated to Israel at the age of 16 and obtained citizenship. Milgram is an American. He was responsible for the Israeli special mission in the embassy's public diplomacy department. After graduating with honors from the University of Kansas in environmental studies, he received a master's degree in international relations from American University.
The two were in a romantic relationship, and it has been revealed that Risinsky purchased an engagement ring just before the incident, drawing sympathy for them within the United States.
Within the United States, antisemitic movements have become pronounced since the outbreak of the Gaza war last year. A report published by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Zionist organization, indicated that there were 9,354 incidents of antisemitism in the U.S. last year, the highest on record. Notably, incidents on college campuses surged by 84% to 1,694 cases.
Tel Aviv University and the ADL analyzed in a joint report that "since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7 of last year, antisemitic incidents in Western countries, including the U.S., have increased by several percentage points (P)."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has consistently taken a hardline stance in the Gaza war, described the murder as "a heinous act of hate and antisemitism."
U.S. President Donald Trump also condemned the "horrific murder in D.C. as based on antisemitism," stating, "There is no place for hate and extremism in America."
As a result of this incident, Israeli diplomatic missions around the world have increased their security. Last month, a man attempted to invade the Israeli embassy in London while wielding a knife.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed, "I am very concerned about additional attacks on diplomatic missions worldwide." Following the incident, Israeli embassies displayed flags at half-mast and deployed additional security personnel.
The Capital Jewish Museum announced, "We plan to reopen in a few days after taking all necessary security measures."
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Rodriguez with the murder of foreign officials, two counts of first-degree murder, and the use of a firearm during a violent crime. It is a serious offense that could carry the death penalty. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the 18th of next month.
This shooting incident serves as evidence that the Gaza war is acting as a catalyst for the spread of antisemitism on a global scale, transcending a simple regional conflict.
At the same time, it suggests that the Trump administration is moving away from a cozy relationship with the existing Netanyahu government and is more likely to approach Middle Eastern issues more realistically.
The Palestinian side rebutted, "The root cause of this incident is that Israel has continuously bombed the Gaza Strip." Public opinion in the international community, including the United Kingdom and France, is also not friendly toward Israel.
On the 19th, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a joint statement saying, "We will not remain silent when the Benjamin Netanyahu government continues its horrific actions," adding, "If Israel does not halt its resumption of military offensives and lift sanctions on humanitarian aid, we will take more concrete actions in response."
Experts at the Middle East Policy Institute analyzed, "The Trump administration is pressuring Israel to end the Gaza war recently, and this incident is likely to add another layer of complexity to U.S.-Israel relations."