Copenhagen– External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday strongly condemned the killing of two Israeli diplomats outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., offering condolences to the bereaved families and calling for swift justice.
The victims, a male and a female staff member of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, were fatally shot by an unidentified gunman as they exited the museum late Wednesday night (local time). U.S. Homeland Security confirmed their deaths, and authorities stated that the lone suspect has been taken into custody.
Jaishankar, who is currently visiting Denmark, expressed India’s solidarity with Israel through a post on X, calling the attack unacceptable and urging accountability for those responsible.
Israeli missions around the world, including in New Delhi, lowered their flags to half-mast in mourning. The Embassy of Israel in India paid tribute to the victims, naming them as Yaron and Sarah, and described the incident as a brutal terrorist act.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also denounced the shooting as a senseless act of violence, affirming that efforts are underway to investigate the attack and ensure justice is served. Former U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the killings as driven by anti-Semitism and called for an end to hatred and radicalism in the United States.
Authorities in Washington have launched a multi-agency investigation and are treating the case as a hate crime motivated by anti-Semitism. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith identified the suspect as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago. According to Smith, Rodriguez opened fire on a group of four people with a handgun, killing the two Israeli staff members. He was reportedly seen pacing outside the museum before the attack. After the shooting, he entered the museum and was detained by security personnel. Once in custody, Rodriguez indicated where he had discarded the weapon, which has since been recovered, and admitted to carrying out the attack.
Police further reported that Rodriguez chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine” while being taken into custody, suggesting an ideological motive behind the act. (Source: IANS)
