A MAN accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members told police after his arrest, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” federal authorities have said.

Elias Rodriguez is reported to have shouted “Free Palestine” following his arrest.

The 31-year-old was told he could face the death penalty if convicted.

Rodriguez faces charges of murder of foreign officials, while prosecutors say additional charges are likely as authorities continue to investigate the killings.

He was not handcuffed and nodded along while the judge read him the charges, the MailOnline has reported.

The two people killed have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American.

They were a young couple who were reportedly about to be engaged.

Milgrim and Lischinsky, who were both Jewish, were working for the Israeli Embassy at the time when they were killed.

They were shot dead while leaving the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday evening.