Vandals cover Hanford Republican lawmaker’s office in photos of kids ‘Murdered by Israel’
Rep. David Valadao’s office was vandalized Monday morning in Hanford by someone the California Republican congressman described as “anti-Israel protestors,” according to a post on social media.
Photos on Valadao’s feed on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed fliers placed on the glass doors and a few on the brick wall that included photos of children and the words, “Murdered by Israel.”
“This morning, my Hanford office was vandalized by anti-Israel protestors. I strongly support the right to peaceful protest, but violence and vandalism are never acceptable,” Valadao tweeted. “In a democracy, harassment and intimidation is not how you make your voice heard.”
The images shared by the congressman also appeared to show a dark liquid splashed on the doors and wall.
“If these protestors truly cared about Palestinian children they would also support the eradication of Hamas terrorists, who are actively using Palestinian hospitals and schools as cover for their military operations and putting thousands of Palestinian civilians at risk,” Valadao also tweeted on Monday.
Hanford police Lt. Justin Vallin said the vandalism appeared to happen between 11 p.m. Sunday and midnight though police were still reviewi[-ng surveillance footage. It involved three to five people, he said.
The liquid on the wall appeared at first to possibly be blood, he said, but police found some discarded bottles that revealed the liquid to be a dark red syrup.
The office on Douty Street is a high foot-traffic area about a block south of downtown and two blocks north of Highway 198, he said.
Valadao has previously tweeted pro-Israel statements, including a Nov. 3 message that denounced Antisemitism and called for sanctions against Hamas
Israel and Palestine have recently committed to a four-day ceasefire after the war erupted on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants in Gaza burst across the border into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting some 240 others, including, women, children and older people.
Israel immediately declared war, carrying out weeks of airstrikes and a ground offensive that have left over 13,300 Palestinians dead, according to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory. Roughly two-thirds of those killed in Gaza have been women and minors.
Both sides have expressed claims to the land.
Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war. Settlers claim the West Bank as their biblical birthright. Most of the international community considers the settlements — home to 700,000 Israelis — illegal.
Valadao said his office remained open by appointment, phone, email or mail.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 27, 2023 at 4:17 PM.
