2 Embassy Staff Shot Dead In Washington, Israel Accuses European Officials Of Spreading Antisemites

JAKARTA - Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has accused an unnamed number of European officials of "toxic antisemites".

Saar said the hostile climate caused the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington to die.

Israel has faced a storm of criticism from Europe recently for intensifying its military operations in Gaza.

Humanitarian groups have warned of an 11-week Israeli blockade against aid supplies has put the area on the verge of starvation.

Saar did not name any country or official, but said the hostile climate towards Israel was behind the shootings of embassy staff Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside Washington's Jewish museum on Wednesday, May 21.

Saar, at a news conference in Jerusalem, said the attack was a direct result of "an antisemitous mutation against Israel and Jews around the world" since the cross-border Hamas militant attack on Israel in October 2023.

"There is a direct connection linking antisemites and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder," he said.

"This result was also carried out by leaders and officials from many countries and organizations, especially from Europe," Saar continued.

Saar refused to mention which leader or official he meant.

However, his remarks came after strong statements from Israeli Western allies, including France and Britain, who joined Canada this week in warnings of a possible "concrete act" against Israel over its war in Gaza.

US officials said a suspect shouting pro-Palestinian slogans was detained.

President Donald Trump and a number of European and other foreign leaders condemned the attack.

Saar said the "global atmosphere" against Israel had deteriorated sharply since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and caused 251 people to be held hostage back to Gaza.

Since then, Israeli air and land operations have killed more than 53,000 Palestinians and destroyed the densely populated area, sparking mass protests around the world from US university campuses to streets in European cities.