Israeli Couple Killed Outside D.C. Museum in Suspected Hate Crime

Yaron Lischinsky was getting ready to ask his girlfriend, Sarah Milgrim, to marry him. He had just bought a ring. He planned to propose next week during a trip to Jerusalem.

But on Wednesday night in Washington, they were both shot and killed. A man yelled “Free Palestine” and opened fire outside the Capital Jewish Museum. The couple had just left an event about the Gaza crisis. The event was meant to help people deal with pain and find hope.

Their deaths shocked the Israeli embassy, where they both worked. It caused outrage around the world. Israeli leaders blamed rising hate and antisemitism. This has been growing since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador in Washington, called them a "beautiful couple." He said they were about to get engaged. "Yaron bought the ring this week. He planned to propose in Jerusalem."

Sarah’s father, Robert, told CBS News that his family loved Yaron. The couple was supposed to fly to Israel on Sunday to meet Yaron’s family.

Yaron Lischinsky was 28. He worked in the political department at the embassy. Sarah Milgrim, 26, worked in public diplomacy.

Yaron was born in Germany but was an Israeli citizen. He served in the Israeli army for three years. He had a master’s degree in government and diplomacy from Reichman University.

On LinkedIn, Yaron said he felt at home in both Jerusalem and Nuremberg. He believed in peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Friends said he was a Christian who strongly supported Israel. Jenny Havemann, from Ra’anana, said he was kind and calm. He was part of a Christian Zionist group. He wanted to bring Germans and Israelis closer.

Another friend, Ronen Shoval, said Yaron was a serious Christian. He moved to Israel from Germany and many people wanted to know more about him.

Sarah Milgrim also loved Israel. Her father said she cared deeply about people in the Middle East. She spent summers in Israel working with both Palestinian and Israeli groups to help them understand each other.

She volunteered with Tech2Peace. This group trains young Palestinians and Israelis and helps them talk to each other. Tech2Peace said Sarah was full of kindness and had a strong sense of purpose. “She worked for a better future,” they said. “We will miss her deeply.”

Sarah had a master’s degree in international studies from American University. She also had a degree in natural resources from the UN University for Peace. Her bachelor’s degree was in environmental studies from the University of Kansas.

The Israeli embassy said it was heartbroken. “Words cannot express how sad and shocked we are,” the statement read.

Security has been increased at Israeli offices around the world.

The attack happened while the war in Gaza continues. It has been 19 months since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed in that attack. Hamas also took 251 hostages.

Since then, Israel’s military action has killed over 53,000 people in Gaza. Many were women and children, said Gaza’s health ministry.

Aid groups and countries like the UK warn that the situation in Gaza is getting worse. They fear a famine is coming.

Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old man from Chicago, has been arrested. Police are questioning him about the killings of Yaron and Sarah.