NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday condemned the killing of the Israeli diplomats in Washington, saying the “perpetrators must be brought to justice”.“Condemn in the strongest term the killing of Israeli diplomats in Washington DC. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and colleagues. The perpetrators must be brought to justice,” Jaishnark wrote on X.“Thank you, dear friend!” replied Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar to the minister’s post.A man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, chanted “Free Palestine” while being taken into custody.The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, allegedly opened fire on Wednesday evening near the Capital Jewish Museum, where the victims, a man and a woman, had just attended an event. They were among a group of four people when the suspect reportedly approached and began shooting.At a press briefing, Washington, DC, police chief Pamela Smith said the suspect had been seen pacing outside the museum prior to the attack. He was subdued and detained by event security shortly after the incident.“While in custody, the suspect repeatedly chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine,’” Smith said, as quoted by news agency Reuters.

The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are probing the motive and any potential links to extremist activity.US President Donald Trump also reacted to the fatal killings, saying “hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA”. Trump said the incident was “based on antisemitism”. “These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!” he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.