Palestinian Factions, Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias, Jihadi Clerics Celebrate Deadly Shooting At Jewish Event In Washington DC By Pro-Palestinian Activist Who Yelled 'Free Palestine!'

Memri

22-05-2025

The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
On May 21, 2025, a shooting attack took place outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where the American Jewish Committee was holding an event for young professionals. The attack resulted in the deaths of two Israeli Embassy employees. [1] Various jihadi outlets and groups published posts celebrating the incident and lauding its perpetrator.
Palestinian Mujahideen Movement Claims Attack Is Response To Israeli Crimes In Gaza; Pro-Hamas 'Gaza Now' Telegram Channel Glorifies Attacker
On May 22, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement issued a statement in response to the attack, claiming that it reflected "growing global anger" over Israel's "barbaric crimes" in Gaza and declaring Israel's "ongoing impunity" a "threat to international stability and peace." The group urged the international community and global institutions to "rein in" Israel and bring an end to its war against "innocent" civilians.[2]
On the same day, the pro-Hamas Gaza Now media outlet wrote a post on its Telegram channel, glorifying the suspected attacker, Elias Rodriguez, claiming that although he is not a Muslim, he couldn't ignore what's happening in Gaza "while the world remains silent." The post concluded that "in a moment of courage, he decided to make his voice heard and boldly confront the killers. He opened fire, killing an Israeli employee, and stood defiantly, handcuffed, to raise the banner of justice in the face of injustice" as he shouted "free Palestine."[3]
Telegram Channel Affiliated With Iran-Backed Militias In Iraq Describes Attack As 'Heroic'
On May 21, "unit 10000," a Telegram channel affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq, shared a video showing the arrest of the suspect, describing the shooting as a "heroic attack" against "the Zionist entity."[4]
Anti-Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Telegram Channel Lauds Perpetrator For Supporting Palestine; Syrian Cleric Urges Muslims To Follow His Example
On May 22, the "Al-Suri Al-Muhajir" Telegram channel, which opposes Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), published a post celebrating the attack and lauding its perpetrator, who reportedly carried it out in support of Gaza and Palestine. The post included a photo of the suspect. In a subsequent post, the channel stated: "When a communist takes revenge for the people of Gaza, you wish all Arab rulers would be crucified and then their skins flayed!"[5]
On May 22, Syrian jihadi cleric Abu Yahya Al-Shami published a post on Telegram praising the the shooter, and urged Muslims to follow his example. The post also criticized Muslim "indolence" in waging jihad, blaming Islamic preachers for diminishing interest in jihad and asserting that "infidels" are now carrying out such attacks while Muslims remain "inactive."[6]