Following the shooting of two Israeli embassy employees outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, the suspect was arrested after shouting ‘free, free Palestine’—a phrase that has become widely associated with pro-Palestinian demonstrations and social media activism since the start of the Gaza war. Progressives across the U.S. are now navigating a difficult dilemma, as the act of violence has drawn scrutiny on the left’s radical fringe. While most progressives reject the violent actions of the suspect, the incident has complicated their broader goals, particularly within the pro-Palestinian movement.
The shooting has also reignited discussions about the role of antisemitism in the conflict, with critics on both sides of the political spectrum attempting to frame the event. While antisemitism has historically been associated with far-right groups, such as the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ march in Charlottesville, recent events have seen tensions escalate even among left-leaning activists. Progressives like Layla Elabed, leader of the Uncommitted National Movement, have expressed concern that the violence risks undermining the movement’s credibility, especially as it seeks to advocate for a ceasefire and an arms embargo in Gaza amid an increasingly dire humanitarian situation.
Some pro-Palestinian activists argue that the shooting could be used to discredit the broader movement, which they describe as a mass effort of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Sandra Tamari, executive director of the Adalah Justice Project, urged support for the movement, stating that vigilante violence should not be exploited to undermine progress toward stopping the conflict. Meanwhile, critics, including some within the Trump administration, have seized the opportunity to label the attack as a targeted act of antisemitism, arguing that it highlights the supposed danger of the pro-Palestinian movement to American values.
The incident also underscores the growing polarization over the issue. While progressive lawmakers like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have condemned the murders and emphasized the violence was in no way justified, Republican lawmakers have dismissed the attack as part of a broader ‘extremism’ in the movement, with Rep. Randy Fine claiming that the Palestinian cause is an ‘evil one.’ This divide has deepened the national debate, as both sides continue to navigate the complex implications of the shooting.