Tragedy Strikes at Israeli Embassy in D.C.: Two Staff Members Killed

Israeli citizens and officials are reeling from the shocking murder of two embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., as calls for unity against antisemitism grow louder.

In a tragic development this Thursday, two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., were killed in a shooting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled an “appalling antisemitic murder.” The incident unfolded on the heels of an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum, where the victims, identified as Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, were leaving when the shooting occurred. Law enforcement has reported that a suspect was arrested shortly after the incident, who allegedly shouted phrases such as “Free, free Palestine” upon his apprehension.

Milgrim's role as an organizer for missions to Israel and Lischinsky's position as a political researcher emphasized their dedication to diplomacy — a passion that was cut short in an act of violence. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., shared that the two were a couple on the verge of engagement. Friends and relatives expressed their devastation over the loss of both individuals, particularly highlighting Lischinsky's kindness and aspirations in diplomacy.

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, expressed that the attack is a direct consequence of the rampant “toxic antisemitic incitement” that has surged globally since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023. Saar's remarks echo broader concerns over an uptick in antisemitic sentiments that has punctuated recent events, intensifying the shock and horror felt by many in Israel and across the Jewish diaspora.