A devastating tragedy struck Washington D.C. early Thursday morning as a young Israeli diplomat couple — Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim — were shot dead in a terror attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum.
Authorities confirmed the suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, opened fire on the couple while shouting “Free Palestine” as he was apprehended by law enforcement. U.S. officials are investigating the shooting as a politically motivated act of terrorism.
Lischinsky, a German-Israeli dual national, was a staffer at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, serving as a research assistant for Middle East and North African Affairs in the Political Department. His girlfriend, Sarah Milgrim, worked in the Public Diplomacy Department of the embassy and held a master’s degree in international studies from American University.
The couple had just attended a Young Diplomats event at the museum when they were attacked.
According to Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Lischinsky had recently purchased an engagement ring and was planning to propose to Milgrim next week in Jerusalem.
The Israel Heritage Foundation (IHF) confirmed the deaths on X, stating:
“The IHF sadly announces the tragic murder by a cold-blooded terrorist of Yaron Lischinsky in DC. Our hearts ache for his loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.”
Condemnations have poured in from global leaders, including President Donald Trump, who described the attack as “vile” and called for “stronger action against the rising tide of anti-Semitism.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed “wild incitement against the State of Israel” for the attack, stating:
“This is the terrible price of anti-Semitism. We will not be silent, and we will not let terror win.”
The incident has sent shockwaves through both the diplomatic community and Jewish organizations worldwide, sparking renewed calls for increased security at Jewish and diplomatic institutions.