22
May
May
ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFF KILLED IN WASHINGTON SHOOTING, SECURITY HEIGHTENED GLOBALLY
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CapitalTimesNews / 3 weeks
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- 2 min read
A lone gunman has killed two Israeli embassy staff in Washington, sparking widespread condemnation and prompting Israel to order heightened security across its embassies worldwide. The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriquez, 30, was taken into custody after the shooting, but his nationality has not been made public. The victims, Yaro Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim, were attending an event at a Jewish Museum near the White House when the attack occurred. According to embassy sources, Yaro was planning to propose to Sara just next week. The motive behind the attack is still unclear, but the suspect’s social media posts before and after the shooting read “Free Palestine, Free Palestine.” Israel has blamed supporters of anti-Semitism for the attack, calling for enhanced security at its embassies globally. The incident comes amid a surge in public condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. Several countries, including France, Britain, and Canada, have threatened to impose sanctions on Israel if it fails to end its blockade and military stranglehold on Gaza and the West Bank. Israel says its military campaign aims to defeat Hamas, ensure the return of all hostages, and create a new political reality in Gaza and the Middle East. The campaign follows the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people and abducted over 350 others. However, the high casualty figures in Gaza, with over 60,000 killed and at least 103,000 wounded, have drawn global outrage. The targeting of journalists, Red Cross personnel, humanitarian workers, women, and children has also sparked widespread condemnation. The international community is calling for an end to the violence, and Israel’s allies are urging it to take steps to minimize harm to civilians. The situation remains volatile, with no clear end in sight to the conflict.