A tragic event occurred in the heart of the American capital – two employees of the Israeli embassy were unexpectedly shot and killed in Washington during a visit to the Jewish Museum
The news quickly gathered details and caused significant resonance within diplomatic circles and among the local community, as the incident became the most serious act of violence at the very center of U.S. political and diplomatic life in recent years. According to the latest reports, the tragedy took place on the evening of May 21. Police spokespersons stated that the incident claimed the lives of a man and a woman who worked at the Israeli embassy. The circumstances of the incident were extremely tragic: the attacker, a 30-year-old Chicago resident named Elias Rodriguez, involved in the shooting, appeared to be walking toward his target near the Jewish Museum. The man was not just loitering around one of the city's most visited cultural sites but suddenly approached a group of four people leaving the museum, drew a pistol, and opened fire. As a result, both embassy employees were wounded, later lost consciousness, and did not survive their injuries – medics who arrived at the scene confirmed their deaths. The location of the event in the very center of Washington was quickly cordoned off by law enforcement. Reports indicate that the perpetrator immediately entered the interior of the museum after the attack, where security personnel detained him. However, before his arrest, he started shouting slogans calling for "Palestinian freedom," adding an even more political and international dimension to the incident. Local and foreign diplomats responded actively to the tragedy. According to Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Jehiel Leiter, the murdered embassy employees were a couple who had plans to get married next week in Jerusalem. The Israeli foreign minister stated that he personally spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, discussed the situation, and shared concerns about the safety of Israeli diplomatic staff abroad. An official U.S. spokesperson, Attorney General Pam Bondi, personally visited the scene and held negotiations with law enforcement officials. She emphasized that the police are investigating all circumstances surrounding the attack and are actively working to establish the motives of the perpetrator. She added that President Trump sent his condolences and assured support for the Jewish community and international partners. The location of the Jewish Museum in downtown Washington makes this event particularly sensitive. Nearby are U.S. diplomatic missions, the FBI, and the Presidential Administration. Less than two kilometers away is the White House. This underscores the seriousness of the incident and its potentially broad political implications. In the context of this tragedy, it is important to consider the international situation. U.S. intelligence currently believes that Israel is preparing for a possible strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, despite efforts by the Trump administration to reach a diplomatic dialogue with Tehran. This only increases tensions between states, which evidently also affects the internal security of allies. The European Union has also addressed this situation, expressing deep outrage over ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Politicians have criticized Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip and active armed operations in the West Bank, especially at a time when a diplomatic delegation was present there. Statements by European representatives emphasize the need for diplomatic solutions to resolve the conflict and condemn any form of violence. The tragedy in Washington has once again raised questions about the security of diplomatic missions and highlighted the growing level of political tension worldwide. Police investigations are ongoing, and the international community is calling for caution and dialogue to avoid further conflicts and tragedies.