WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said Friday that his home was vandalized by activists pushing for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
A spokesperson from the congressman’s office told NBC News that Smith’s garage was vandalized with red spray paint calling for a cease-fire. The alleged incident in Bellevue, Washington, took place around the same time that Israel renewed its assault in Gaza after the end of a weeklong truce with Hamas.
“Last night, my house was vandalized by people advocating for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza,” Smith said in a statement. “This attack is sadly reflective of the coarsening of the political discourse in our country, and is completely unwarranted, unnecessary, and harmful to our political system.”
Smith’s office said that both the Bellevue police and U.S. Capitol Police were notified. Neither immediately responded to a request for comment.
In addition to the cease-fire message, the words “Free Gaza” and “Baby Killer” were also spray-painted on Smith’s garage, according to photos provided by his office.
Health officials in Gaza say the death toll has surpassed 15,000 after weeks of Israeli attacks. The Israel Defense Forces estimates 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with around 140 people still held captive in Gaza.
