JC Israel Briefing Day 595: Israeli diplomats suspend public appearances after Washington shootings

He said the couple “weren’t the victims of a random crime,” and that the gunman killed them “for one reason and one reason alone – he wanted to kill Jews”. He linked the shooter’s chant of “Free Palestine” to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023  and called the slogan “today’s version of ‘Heil Hitler’”.

In the US, Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the attack as antisemitic and promised “the most severe possible punishment”. Rodriguez is charged with murdering foreign officials. He allegedly used a 9mm handgun, fired 21 rounds, and carried out the attack at close range.

The FBI is reviewing a manifesto titled “Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home,” apparently posted by Rodriguez before the shooting. It calls for violent action and praises martyrdom, framing the attack as a response to Israeli military operations.

Far-right Israeli ministers blamed opposition politician Yair Golan for fuelling anti-Israel sentiment. Their claims, citing Golan’s criticism of the Gaza campaign, were widely downplayed as fringe and politically motivated. Golan dismissed the accusations as an attempt to exploit tragedy for partisan gain.

In other news, Houthi terrorists fired a ballistic missile at Israel this morning, the third such launch in 24 hours. Israeli missile defence systems intercepted the projectile over central Israel. Sirens sounded in multiple areas. No injuries or damage were reported. The IDF said the Iran-backed group is maintaining long-range pressure on Israel’s home front.

In Gaza, Israeli forces have launched a fresh ground operation in Khan Younis. Thousands of troops moved back into the southern city, targeting Hamas infrastructure.

More than 200 sites were hit, including tunnels, command centres, and weapons stockpiles. The military said dozens of fighters were killed in combat and airstrikes.

Israeli fighter jets also struck Hezbollah assets in Lebanon. They destroyed a weapons storage site in the eastern Beqaa Valley and several rocket launch positions in the south. The IDF said Hezbollah was operating in breach of established security arrangements.

Meanwhile, there is major political controversy after Netanyahu appointed a new Shin Bet chief just hours after the Attorney General barred him from doing so. He named David Zini, who had been commanding the army’s Gaza Division.

This move comes on the heels of Israel's Supreme Court ruling that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government violated the law when it fired former director Ronen Bar due to its "lack of trust" in him. The court said that Netanyahu was disqualified from appointing a new chief until legal safeguards were put in place due to a conflict of interest, as the Shin Bet is investigating corruption allegations tied to his close aides.

Legal experts and watchdog groups said the move ignores court orders and threatens the independence of the security agency. Netanyahu’s allies called the appointment a legitimate use of political authority.

And Netanyahu has rejected suggestions that Qatari cash he approved for Gaza before October 7 helped Hamas carry out the massacre. He said the money was for civilian purposes and blamed the military for operational failures. “Pickup trucks. Kalashnikovs. RPGs. That doesn’t cost anything,” he said. “A small unit can do it. It doesn’t cost money.”

Finally, in the West Bank, Israeli soldiers opened fire near a convoy of foreign diplomats in Jenin. The group had strayed from the approved route. Video showed officials scrambling for cover. The army apologised, admitting it mistook the convoy’s position. No one was hurt.

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