A Palestinian terrorist murdered a couple in Washington and shouted: 'I did it for Gaza.'

Yaron Lischinsky, 28 years old, and his partner Sarah Milgrim, a citizen of the United States and also an employee of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, were killed on Wednesday in an antisemitic terrorist attack that occurred in front of the Jewish Museum, located in the U.S. capital.

The identities of the victims were confirmed both by the Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, who described the incident as a "terrorist act," and by the Israeli diplomatic representation itself.

"The attack occurred as they were leaving an event at the museum. A terrorist shot them and killed them," the embassy stated in a release shared on its social media.

The alleged perpetrator of the attack, Elías Rodriguez, 30 years old, is a pro-Palestinian far-left militant, and his statements made after the attack confirm it. That night, the interior of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington turned into an improvised shelter and a scene of panic.

The attack and the terrorist's statements

Katie Kalisher, a 29-year-old jewelry designer, was at the location to participate in a panel on humanitarian aid in Gaza when the event was abruptly interrupted by gunfire. Her account to Reuters reflected the initial confusion and tension experienced during the attack in which two employees of the Israeli embassy lost their lives.

"Around 9 p.m., we heard gunshots coming from outside and really didn't understand what was happening," Kalisher recounted, adding: "Then a man came in who looked very scared. We thought he was just on the street, heard the shots, and entered the building seeking safety."

Several of those present approached to try to calm him. Kalisher also attempted to engage in conversation: "I started talking to him and asked: 'Do you like the museum?', just trying to calm him down. And he replied: 'What kind of museum is this?' I told him it was a Jewish museum. Then he asked me: 'Do you think that's why they didn't like it?'"

It was at that moment when suspicion turned into a revelation. "He took out his keffiyeh and said: 'I did it, I did it for Gaza, freedom, freedom for Palestine.' He was chanting that. And suddenly the police arrived and arrested him," Kalisher recounted. According to her description, the scarf he wore did not correspond to the Palestinian flag but was of Jordanian origin. "I think he is a very confused person," she added.

The alleged striker, preliminarily identified as Elías Rodriguez, 30 years old and from Chicago, was arrested at the scene. According to the police report, during his arrest, the individual shouted pro-Palestinian political slogans. The weapon used was found at the scene, and authorities assured that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.