Ilhan Omar refuses to address murder of Israeli diplomats in D.C. | WATCH

U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing sharp criticism after initially refusing to comment on the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21 in what authorities are now investigating as a possible hate crime.

When pressed by reporters just hours after the attack, Omar declined to respond, saying only, “I’m going to go for now.” Her silence drew swift backlash from critics who accused her of downplaying antisemitic violence. Later that evening, Omar posted a brief statement on social media, saying she was “appalled” by the incident and offered thoughts and prayers to the victims’ families, but stopped short of directly condemning the attack.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Omar’s lack of an immediate and forceful response “despicable,” stressing the importance of political leaders clearly denouncing violence and hate. The controversy comes amid renewed scrutiny of Omar’s past remarks about Israel, including comments likening the Jewish state to terrorist groups and legislative efforts questioning its legitimacy. Those statements contributed to her removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee in 2023.

The suspect in the attack, 29-year-old Elias Rodriguez, is in custody and faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder and the killing of foreign officials. Federal authorities say the shooting may have been motivated by antisemitic hatred.