‘Despicable act of terrorism’: Washington embassy shooting leaves Israeli officials devastated

Israeli officials condemned the shooting at the Israeli Embassy in Washington in the early hours of Thursday morning as the country was waking up. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was shocked by the horrific anti-semitic murder of embassy staff in Washington, his office said in a statement. 

“We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel. The blood libels against Israel come at the cost of blood, and they must be fought until eradicated,” Netanyahu said.

“My heart aches with the families of the beloved young man and woman whose lives were suddenly cut short by a despicable antisemitic murderer.

“I have instructed to strengthen security arrangements at Israeli missions worldwide and to increase protection for state representatives,” he concluded.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that the prime minister and the US Attorney General Pam Bondi have been in touch regarding the attack and that she told him that the US will ensure the murderer is brought to justice. 

“I am devastated by the scenes in Washington, DC,” President Isaac Herzog said on X/Twitter. “This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy.”

I am devastated by the scenes in Washington DC.This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured.…

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) May 22, 2025

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

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon called the shooting a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism” in a post on X, adding, “Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line.”

The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against… pic.twitter.com/mVyXHjGyxU

— Danny Danon דני דנון (@dannydanon) May 22, 2025

“We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives everywhere in the world,” Danon concluded.

Israel and US authorities in touch over shooting

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the news of the attack “terrible” on X and added that “Representatives of the State of Israel are always, and especially during this period, at increased risk.”

חדשות נוראיות הבוקר עם פיגוע הטרור המזעזע,בו נרצחו שני עובדי שגרירות ישראל בוושינגטון.נציגי מדינת ישראל מצויים תמיד ובתקופה זו בפרט בסיכון מוגבר. שוחחתי עם שגרירנו בארה״ב יחיאל לייטר, שהגיע לזירת הפיגוע ואנו בקשר עם הרשויות האמריקאיות. ישראל לא תכנע לטרור.

— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) May 22, 2025

“I spoke with our ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, who arrived at the scene of the attack, and we are in contact with the American authorities. Israel will not surrender to terrorism,” Sa’ar concluded.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said that he was “shocked and heartbroken” by the attack, saying that his thoughts are with the families of the victims, embassy staff, and all of Israel. 

Chikli thanked US President Donald Trump for his “swift and unequivocal condemnation of this heinous act, and for stating clearly that this was an antisemitic hate crime that has no place in the United States. I also commend Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem for her firm response and rapid action that led to the apprehension of the terrorist. Their leadership is a vital part of the broader and ongoing effort to combat antisemitism, including the incitement and intimidation spreading across American college campuses.”

Regarding the attacker’s use of the phrase “Free Palestine” upon his arrest, Chiki said, “Let us be absolutely clear: ‘Free Palestine’ is not a cry for liberty – it is a cry for murder. That was proven in blood today.

“This slogan, parroted by activists, academics, and influencers, has become a banner not for peace but for hatred, violence, and the demonization of the Jewish state. Anyone who uses it now, in the wake of this attack, is not just echoing antisemitism – they are legitimizing the murder of Jews and Israelis.”

Chikli also stated that “irresponsible leaders in the West who give backing to this hatred” must be held accountable. “French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have all, in different ways, emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines. This cowardice has a price – and that price is paid in Jewish blood. We will continue to fight antisemitism everywhere – with clarity, courage, and zero tolerance,” Chikli concluded.

Consul General of Israel in New York, Ofir Akunis, said, “Rhetoric that legitimizes violence against Jews and Israelis sadly leads to terror attacks—like the one we saw last night in Washington,” adding, “Sadly, someone here listened to the chants of ‘Intifada, Intifada.’”

“No terror group or lone attacker will stop us from representing the State of Israel—neither in the US nor anywhere else in the world,” Akunis concluded.

Opposition leader and Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid called the attack an act of “antisemitic terrorism and a direct result of the incitement we’ve seen at protests across the world,” on X in English, adding, “This is what they always meant by ‘Globalize the intifada.” 

“My thoughts and prayers are with all the staff of Israel’s embassy in the USA and with the families of the victims.”

ליבנו ותפילותינו עם משפחות הנרצחים בוושינגטון הלילה. משני צידי האוקיינוס אנטישמים רוצחים יהודים רק בגלל שהם יהודים. נתייצב יחד עם הקהילות היהודיות אל מול השנאה, נלחם יחד בטרור ונוכל לו.

— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) May 22, 2025

Lapid continued in Hebrew, saying, “On both sides of the ocean, antisemites are murdering Jews simply because they are Jewish. We will stand together with Jewish communities in the face of this hatred, fight terrorism together, and overcome it.”

Otzma Yehudit MK Amichai Eliyahu blamed the attack on Yair Golan’s statement in a Monday interview on Kan Reshet Bet during which he said, “A sane country does not kill babies for a hobby.”

עלילות הדם של יאיר גולן מהודהדות בקרב נאצים ושונאי ישראל ברחבי העולם, את המחיר עליהם אנחנו משלמים עכשיו בפיגוע הרצחני בוושינגטון וההיסטוריה מלמדת אותנו שנשלם עוד בהמשך. יאיר, הדם של עובדי השגרירות על הידיים שלך ושל חבריך. תנחומיי הכנים למשפחות הנרצחים.

— עמיחי אליהו – Amichay Eliyahu (@Eliyahu_a) May 22, 2025

“Yair Golan’s blood libels are echoing among Nazis and Israel-haters around the world. We are now paying the price for them in the deadly attack in Washington, and history teaches us that we will continue to pay,” Eliyahu said on X.

“Yair, the blood of the embassy staff is on your hands and the hands of your colleagues. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims,” he concluded.

Democrats MK Gilad Kariv said, “The heinous murder of Israeli embassy employees who took part in an event hosted by a leading Jewish organization in the American capital is a reminder that terrorism does not distinguish between Israeli citizens and Jews around the world. 

“Western countries must fight not only against terrorist organizations but also against the spreading and deepening anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli incitement to violence,” Kariv continued.

CEO of ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, Oded Revivi, said that the attack “sadly reminds us once again that hatred is directed at Jews simply for being Jewish, and that hatred of the State of Israel has become a new form of expressing antisemitism” in a statement. 

“As the largest Jewish museum in the world, we maintain working relationships with the museum staff in Washington. In recent years, we have taken on the shared mission not only of telling the story of a rich and vibrant Jewish past, but also of highlighting the ongoing contributions of Jews around the globe today. Together, we are acutely aware of the growing expressions of hate—at public events and across social media—that may appear to be directed at Israel, but a closer look reveals the same age-old antisemitism targeting Jews wherever they are.”

The museum concluded by expressing its condolences to the families of the victims and promised to “continue standing tall and serve as proud ambassadors of the Jewish people.”

This is a developing story.

Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.

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