DC Shooting Kills Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Linked To Extremist Group

On May 21, 2025, Elias Rodriguez carried out a shooting attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., killing two Israeli Embassy employees while shouting "Free Palestine!" Although Rodriguez had a brief association with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) in 2017, the PSL has denied any current connection or support for the attack. The party has a history of supporting pro-Palestinian causes, including endorsing events tied to U.S.-designated Palestinian terrorist groups and celebrating Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks. A rally in Queens organized by the Bronx Anti-War Coalition showed support for armed struggle aligned with Iran-led resistance groups, carrying banners featuring leaders of groups designated as terrorists by the U.S. Rodriguez’s attack has been contextualized amid rising antisemitism and pro-Palestinian activism on American campuses and communities, which some argue created a climate that contributed to the tragedy. The incident has sparked national debate on antisemitism, media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the influence of extremist groups in the U.S.