Congressman’s home vandalized with message calling for Gaza cease-fire

On August 10th, 2020, the home of Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel in the Bronx, New York was vandalized with a spray-painted message calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza conflict. The message, which read “Gaza cease-fire now,” was discovered scrawled in black paint on the door and wall of Engel’s home. The Bronx District Attorney’s office is currently investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Security footage of the incident indicates that the perpetrator was a white male in his mid-to-late 30s wearing a blue shirt and dark pants.

The message was likely an attempt to draw attention to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as Engel has long been an advocate for the region and frequently speaks out against the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel. Engel was not home at the time of the incident, and no other damages or attempts at vandalism have been reported.