Credit: Reuters

Benjamin Netanyahu accused Sir Keir Starmer and other world leaders of siding with Hamas following the murder of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC.

The Israeli prime minister said Sir Keir, along with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, were “on the wrong side of humanity”.

In a televised statement addressing the shootings at the Capital Jewish Museum, Mr Netanyahu said that by condemning the war in Gaza, the leaders were supporting “mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, and kidnappers”.

Embassy workers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim had just left a reception for diplomats on Wednesday night when a stranger armed with a handgun approached them and opened fire.

The alleged murderer in Washington DC told police “I did it for Gaza” and shouted “free, free Palestine” as he handed himself in.

Mr Netanyahu’s criticism follows a joint statement by the UK, France, and Canada that criticised Israel for expanding its ground operation in Gaza and preventing aid from entering the war-torn strip.

The Israeli leader said Hamas wanted to destroy Israel and that he could “never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others”.

He said: “I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you’re on the wrong side of justice.

“You’re on the wrong side of humanity, and you’re on the wrong side of history.”

Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were set to get engaged, were killed in the attack

No10 declined to comment on Mr Netanyahu’s remarks but instead highlighted the Prime Minister’s condemnation of Wednesday’s attack.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder late afternoon on Thursday. He has also been charged with murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.

The attack is being investigated as a hate crime and terrorism, Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney, said on Thursday night, adding that it was a “death-penalty-eligible case”.

Yaron Lischinsky worked in the embassy’s political department

Earlier this week, Sir Keir said he was “horrified” by Israel’s actions, saying that an “utterly inadequate” amount of aid had been let into Gaza.

The UK later announced a raft of sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including those who featured in Louis Theroux’s recent documentary, and suspended trade talks with Israel.

Amichai Chikli, the Israeli diaspora affairs minister, said on Thursday that the world must hold to account “irresponsible leaders in the West who give backing” to hatred against Jews and Israelis, “whether through appeasement, double standards, or silence”.

Mr Chikli added that the leaders of France, Canada, and the UK had “emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines. This cowardice has a price – and that price is paid in Jewish blood.”

Amichai Chikli, the Israeli diaspora affairs minister, said ‘irresponsible leaders’ must be held to account - Omar Marques

Sir Keir has not responded to the Israeli criticism, but said on Thursday morning: “I thoroughly condemn the anti-Semitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC.”

A UK minister on Friday said that he did not “recognise” Mr Netanyahu’s criticism of the Prime Minister.

Luke Pollard, the Armed Forces minister, told Sky News: “We condemn the killing of diplomats thoroughly. We want to see a proper investigation as we would do in all things to secure justice for those people who have been murdered in the States.

“But we also at the same time should not remove ourselves from the need to secure a lasting peace in Gaza.”

Footage described by the FBI in a charging document revealed that the suspect passed the couple after they left the museum before shooting them in the back.

Sarah Milgrim, a Jewish American embassy employee, was named as the second victim

Rodriguez leaned over the couple and fired at them repeatedly after they dropped to the ground, the FBI said. Ms Milgrim attempted to crawl away before Rodriguez allegedly followed behind her and fired again. He is then accused of reloading his weapon and firing at Ms Milgrim as she sat up.

Following the shooting, the suspect was allowed into the nearby Capital Jewish Museum by security guards who initially thought he was a distraught bystander.

Yoni Kalin, the event’s organiser, told Fox News: “He was clearly in trauma, he was in shock. Some of the people at the event sat him down, brought him water, asked if he was okay, and he was like, ‘Call the cops’.”

Minutes later, when officers arrived, Rodriguez allegedly admitted to carrying out the shooting.

US Homeland Security cordon off the area after the shooting - REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Ms Kalin said: “He grabbed a red keffiyeh out of his pocket and started a ‘Free Palestine’ chant, ‘There’s only one solution, Intifada revolution’.”

Pamela Smith, the chief of the Washington metropolitan police, said: “Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence.

“The suspect chanted, ‘free, free Palestine’ while in custody.”

Credit: Instagram/Katie Kalisher

The suspect is believed to have written a letter, which was made public an hour after the attack:

The letter states: “Public opinion has shifted against the genocidal apartheid state, and the American government has simply shrugged.”

“Free Palestine,” the letter concludes, according to Sky News.

People gather to light candles in a makeshift memorial to honour the victims - AP

Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, described the victims as a “beautiful couple” who “came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural centre”.

The ambassador added: “The young man [Yaron] purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem.”

Mr Netanyahu said he had ordered Israeli embassy security to be boosted around the world in response to the incident.

He added: “The terrorist who cruelly gunned them down did so for one reason and one reason alone – he wanted to kill Jews. And as he was taken away, he chanted, ‘Free Palestine!’ For these neo-Nazis, ‘Free Palestine’ is just today’s version of ‘Heil Hitler’.”

A vigil was held for victims Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside the White House - Getty Images

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are horrified by the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in DC, and the Prime Minister’s thoughts are with the victims, their families and all staff at the embassy, for whom this is a very troubling time. Diplomats must always be allowed to do their jobs safely.

“Anti-Semitism is an evil that we must stamp out wherever it appears. Now, as always, the Prime Minister stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in the UK and the Government has offered its support to the Israeli embassy in London.

“We continue to provide £18 million per year in funding for protective security measures for Jewish community sites in the UK.”

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