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The man suspected to have killed two Israeli Embassy staffers at a Jewish museum in Washington last night said after the shooting: "I did it for Gaza," a witness said.

Katie Kalisher, a 29-year-old jewelry designer who witnessed last night's shooting, told Reuters she was at the Capital Jewish Museum to listen to a panel on humanitarian aid in Gaza, minutes before gunshots were heard outside at about 9 p.m. local time.

“We didn’t really understand what’s going on,” Kalisher said.

Shortly after the shooting, a man who “looked very scared” came inside. “We thought that he was just in the street ... and maybe [he] came into the building because he wanted to be somewhere safe,” she said.

Kalisher said that in an attempt to calm him down, she and others began helping the man and talking to him. When he asked what kind of museum they were inside, she told him it was a Jewish museum, she said. The suspect then appeared to be confused.

“He asked me, 'Do you think that that’s why they did it?'” referencing the gunshots that they had heard.

“It took me a second,” she said, adding that she told him, “I don’t think that’s why, I’m sure it’s unrelated.”

She said that the man then pulled out a keffiyeh, a traditional black and white scarf worn by Arabic communities that has been linked with the pro-Palestinian movement, revealing himself to be the suspected shooter.

“He pulls out his keffiyeh and he says, ‘I did it. I did it for Gaza. Free, free Palestine,’” before the police came inside and arrested the man, Kalisher said. Police identified the suspect as Elias Rodriguez.

Kalisher added that afterwards, the crowd was moved away from the windows and doors for safety while police officers swarmed inside with guns. “It just felt really surreal,” she said.

The museum event after which two Israeli Embassy staff were killed was focused on bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza, an aid group has said.

“We, and all the attendees, gathered in the interest of finding practical solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” IsraAID, an independent Israel-based aid group, said in a statement.

“The brutal and tragic irony that such an event — motivated by humanitarian principles — was targeted for more violence is heartbreaking,” it said. “We unequivocally condemn this attack.”

Children in Gaza, who make up about half of the region’s population, are facing the “worst humanitarian crisis” since October 2023, including the growing risk of starvation, illness and death due to ongoing bombardments, forced displacement and the aid blockade, according to the United Nations.

A picture has emerged of shooting victim Yaron Lischinsky alongside the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, during his visit to Washington in November 2024.

Lischinsky was killed in Washington last night alongside Sarah Milgram.

The organizer of the event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington last night said she spoke to the man suspected of killing two people moments after the shooting — without realizing he would be accused of carrying out the attack.

Speaking to NBC News’ international partner, Sky News, Jojo Drake Kalin said she mistook the suspected shooter for a bystander when he entered the building, offering him water because he seemed “distraught.”

“I actually offered and gave him water, unbeknownst to me that I was actually looking evil in the eye,” Kalin said. “There was commotion and a frenzy, but no one was aware of lives lost.”

Moments later, police arrived on scene to arrest the suspect, named as Elias Rodriguez.

Kalin said the Young Diplomats reception was focused on the theme, “turning pain into purpose,” with the aim of bringing together young professionals, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to talk about bridge-building in the Middle East and North Africa region.

“We were wanting to counter the us-versus-them narrative,” she said. “It’s painfully ironic that at a time we were speaking about bridge building, somebody came in with such hate and destruction.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said today he is “very worried” that attacks similar to the shooting would proliferate at more Israeli embassies.

“I’m very worried,” Sa’ar told reporters at a briefing in Jerusalem. “I want to tell you that during the last months and weeks, we had a couple of incidents in several embassies.”

Some of the attacks were even “not reported,” he added, and they happened “mainly in Europe.”

British police said last month they had arrested and charged a man with a terrorism offence after he allegedly tried to break into the Israeli embassy in London with a bladed weapon.

Israel said at the time that none of its embassy staff members were harmed and the building didn’t suffer any damage either.

Some Israeli citizens are concerned over their safety abroad after the shooting of Israeli diplomats in Washington DC.

“I’m an Israeli and it makes me feel like I’m afraid...to go abroad,” said Aviya Levi, a 30-year-old resident of Jerusalem, in an interview with the Reuters news agency.

“I have kids, it’s just going to make me afraid,” she added.

The shooting proved that “anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli, it’s basically the same,” said another Jerusalem resident, 39-year-old Udi Tsemach told Reuters, adding, “They didn’t choose the Israeli embassy, it’s a Jewish museum, which means the hatred for Jews and the hatred to Israel both aligned.”

Ziv Halsband, 32, said he had woken up to this “terrible news” in Jerusalem, adding that Jewish people around the world need to protect themselves. “We hope that (President Donald) Trump will continue to help us and to protect us all, especially in the (United) States,” Halsband said, adding, “We want to be sure that we can go all over to all over the world with confidence.”

Meanwhile, in the town of Bet Shemesh, 52-year-old Tamri Gilad echoed the sentiments. “Just to be Jewish is a problem today, it’s very sad,” he said.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar today slammed European officials for helping to spread resentment against Jews with “blood libels” in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

He said in a speech in Jerusalem today that this “toxic” resentment towards Jews led directly to the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington D.C. last night.

The phrase “blood libel” has historically been used to falsely accuse Jews of using the blood of Christians in religious rituals and often forms the basis of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

“There is a direct line connecting antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder. This incitement is propagated even by leaders and officials of many countries and international organizations, particularly in Europe,” Sa’ar said at a press conference according to a transcript provided by his office.

“These words are modern blood libels. Libels about genocide, crimes against humanity, and the murder of babies have paved the way for such acts of violence,” he said.

He urged such world leaders to stop their “false accusations” but “strengthen Israel in its historic battle against the axis of evil in the Middle East” instead.

Sa’ar declined to comment directly on whether the joint statement by France, the U.K. and Canada opposing the “expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza” could lead to this kind of violent action.

“I think I said very clear things,” he said when pressed by a reporter.

Earlier, Sa’ar called the shooting “a shocking terrorist attack” in a post on X, and added that he had spoken to Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Israel about the ongoing intensive investigation.

European Union foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said she was “shocked” by the news of the DC shooting in a post on X, adding, “There is and should be no place in our societies for hatred, extremism, or antisemitism.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the “heinous act in the strongest possible terms,” in a post on X, adding, “at this point, we must assume an anti-Semitic motive.”

In France, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called it “an abhorrent act of antisemitic barbarity” in a post on X and said that “nothing can justify such violence.”

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X that “anti-Semitism must be stopped, past atrocities cannot return.”

In Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in a post on X sent his condolences to the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

Their reactions come as Sa’ar, speaking to the press in Washington D.C. earlier, said that European leaders had incited “antisemitic terrorism” that led to Israeli missions becoming targets, days after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer released a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, in which they called Israel’s renewed military offensive in Gaza “wholly disproportionate.”

The fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington last night was not a “random act of violence” but a “depraved act of antisemitic terrorism,” the CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center said.

“The fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., tonight was not a random act of violence,” Jim Berk said in an emailed statement early today.

“It was a targeted assault on Israeli diplomats and the Jewish community in the very heart of the nation’s capital, and it must be recognized for what it is: a depraved act of antisemitic terrorism.”

The event at the Capital Jewish Museum, which sits on 3rd and F Streets in Northwest in central Washington, was a cocktail reception for young diplomats and professionals.

It was organized by the American Jewish Committee, a Jewish advocacy group that stands up for Israel and confronts antisemitism, according to its website.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations told CNN that Israeli embassies had been put on "high alert" after the shooting in DC.

It came after an earlier statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he had directed security to be increased at Israeli missions around the world and for the state's representatives.

The victims of the DC shooting, identified by the Israeli government in a post on X as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, both worked at the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C.

The two were an engaged couple, the Israeli U.N. envoy, Danny Danon, told CNN earlier.

Lischinsky worked as a research assistant on Middle East and North African affairs at the Embassy’s Political Department, according to his LinkedIn page. He graduated with a Master’s degree from Reichman University in Herzliya, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A fluent speaker in English, Hebrew, and German, he moved to Jerusalem from Nuremberg, Germany, at the age of 16.

“I’m an ardent believer in the vision that was outlined in the Abraham Accords and believe that expanding the circle of peace with our Arab neighbors and pursuing regional cooperation is in the best interest of the State of Israel and the Middle East as a whole,” Lischinsky wrote on his LinkedIn page.

Sarah Lynn Milgrim worked in the Department of public diplomacy, according to her LinkedIn page. She graduated with a Master’s degree in international affairs from American University, and another Master’s in natural resources and sustainable development from the University for Peace. Prior the working at the embassy, Milgrim worked with Tech2Peace in Tel Aviv, where she conducted research on peacebuilding and grassroots initiatives in the Israeli-Palestinian region.

“My passion lies at the intersection of peacebuilding, religious engagement, and environmental work,” Milgrim wrote on her LinkedIn page.

A video clip taken by an attendee at the Capital Jewish Museum on Thursday and shared on social media shows the suspected gunman being led out of the building while shouting "Free, free Palestine."

The Israeli Embassy to the United States has identified the victims of the shooting as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim.

Calling them friends and colleagues, the embassy said on X that they were “in the prime of their lives.”

“The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder,” it said, adding, “Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the suspect “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Netanyahu’s office said he was “outraged” by the “horrifying antisemitic murder” in Washington.

“We are witness to the terrible cost of the antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer,” he added.

Netanyahu said he had spoken with Attorney General Pam Bondi and directed that security be increased at Israeli missions around the world and for the country’s representatives.

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said that Israelis and Americans are “resilient” people and that he believed authorities would “bring justice” for tonight’s shooting.

“We are a resilient people. The people of Israel are resilient people. The people of the United States of America are resilient people. Together, we won’t be afraid. Together, we’ll stand and we’re going to overcome moral depravity of people who think that they’re going to achieve political gains through murder,” Leiter said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was “devastated” by the scenes in Washington.

“This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy,” he saidon X.

“Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador and all the embassy staff. We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the U.S.,” he continued.

“America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the attack “a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence.”

“Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice,” he said on X.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, called the shooting “sickening,” adding that it “seems to be another horrific instance of antisemitism which as we know is all too rampant in our society.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., saidhe was “monitoring the situation” and added that he was “lifting up the victim’s families in our prayers.”

The two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed while leaving a sold-out Young Diplomats reception at the Capital Jewish Museum organized by the American Jewish Committee.

“This is a shocking act of violence and our community is holding each other tighter tonight,” AJC Chief Executive Ted Deutch said in a statement. “At this painful moment, we mourn with the victims’ families, loved ones, and all of Israel.”

“It strongly appears that this was an attack motivated by hate against the Jewish people and the Jewish state,” he said. “This senseless hate and violence must stop.”

The victims appear to have been exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum at the corner of 3rd and F streets in northwest Washington, Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith said.

Before the shooting, which took place around 9 p.m. local time, the suspect was seen pacing back and forth outside the museum, Smith said. He approached a group of four people and opened fire on them with a handgun, striking both of the people who died.

The suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security, Smith said. Once he was in custody, the suspect told officials where he had discarded the weapon and "implied" that he had committed the offense. He chanted "Free, free Palestine" while in custody, Smith said.

Smith said the suspect had been tentatively identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago.

President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims’ families.

“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He also spoke on the phone with Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, pledging to do everything possible to help.

Leiter said at a news conference that, on the way there, Attorney General Pam Bondi handed him a phone with Trump on the line.

Trump "told me that his administration is going to do everything it can possibly do to fight and end antisemitism and the hatred that’s being directed — the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel,” Leiter said.

Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, said the man and woman shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum were a couple and that they were about to be engaged next week.

“The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural center,” Leiter said.

Two staff members of Israel’s embassy in Washington, D.C., were shot dead outside the city’s Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night, officials said.

The suspect shouted “Free, free Palestine” while in police custody and “implied” that he committed the shooting, Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith said. The suspect was identified as Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago.

In custody, he told authorities where he discarded the weapon, Smith said. Mayor Muriel Bowser said there was no longer an active threat to the community after the arrest.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations called the incident a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”

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