TRANSCRIPT
These residents have gathered for an impromptu vigil outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC, the scene of two Israeli embassy workers being fatally shot as they left an event there.
President of the New Jewish Narrative group, Hadar Susskind, is among the mourners.
"This is an unbelievable, painful moment, and it's so important that we're here together to stand in solidarity."
The two people killed in the shooting have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, whom colleague Ayalet Razin says wanted to get married.
"I understand they were supposed to come to Israel next week to announce their engagement. They were a beautiful couple, and all this was violently ended."
Shooting eyewitness Katie Kalisher says the pair had just been to an event at the Museum which was about building bridges between Arabs and Jews in hopes of ending bloodshed in the Middle East.
"We were meeting at the Capitol Jewish Museum to listen to a panel that was discussing how these different organisations from around the world and different faiths are working together to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza. So people that are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Israelis, whatever, they're all working together for this goal of helping innocent Palestinians."
Katie says the man suspected of carrying out the shootings had been arrested minutes after the attack by event security after people initially assumed he was a bystander.
"Around 9 p.m., we heard gunshots coming from outside and we didn't really understand what's going on. And then a man came in and he looked very scared. And we thought that he was just in the street and heard these gunshots and maybe came into the building because he wanted to be somewhere safe and not in the streets. So people are helping him and they're they're talking to him... So he pulls out his keffiyeh and he says, I did it. I did it for Gaza, free, free Palestine. And he's chanting this. And then suddenly the police come in and they arrest him."
The suspect has been identified as a 31 year old Chicago born man, who US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro says has now been charged in federal court with two counts of first degree murder.
She says more charges are likely once the FBI and other agencies complete their investigation.
"It is the kind of case that we will vigorously pursue... We're gonna continue to investigate this as a hate crime and a crime of terrorism. And we will add additional charges as the evidence warrants."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an increase in security measures at Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide following the shootings.
Tammy Bruce from the State Department says the US is taking its own steps as well.
"I can't speak to security measures that are being implemented or being discussed or decided upon. What I did note in my my topper is that, in fact, we are working certainly with the DC Metropolitan Police. And, the security of this building, of American diplomats, of diplomats throughout the city is of paramount importance to the United States of America. We act on that every single day."
Still, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar says it might be too little, too late.
He has blamed the attack on the rise of antisemitism he says has been apparent since October 7 - and something he had long been fearing.
"I have been worried for the past few months that something like this would happen. And it did."
Jewish people living across the world have suggested the increased security measures around diplomatic delegations will do little to dampen fears about their own safety.
Israel has faced sustained international condemnation for its escalating military offensive in the Gaza Strip - and Ayalet Razin says the Jewish community has been bearing the brunt of that, no matter what their own opinions might be.
"They had nothing to do with Israel or Israeli government policy, the war, nothing. They were murdered because they were Jews. And this is something I think the world doesn't understand."
Rabbi Scott Perlo is from the Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation.
He's fearful - but also, angry.
"If you're not enraged, you should be. And if you're not broken-hearted, you ought to be. How can we stand here like it's normal?"
Still, along with the shock and the anger, there have been calls for dialogue and reflection.
Hadar Susskind says he wants to see violence addressed in a meaningful way.
"We have to do better. We all have to better. We have to be here together, working for peace. We have find a better way to a better future for Israelis, for Palestinians, for American Jews, for Muslims, for all of us. This cannot be the answer. Violence, the cycle, endless bloodshed cannot be the best that we have to offer."
