Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) revealed that a sign posted outside his office with the message “I Stand With Israel” was removed during the night.
“Last night, someone came to my D.C. office and removed my Stand With Israel sign. Let me be clear, this is not just about a stolen sign, this is about uniting as a country to stand alongside our closest ally in a fight against hate and evil,” Williams said in a statement to The Hill.
Williams pointed out that the ongoing conflict has resulted in the loss of over 1,000 Israeli lives, with an additional 35 Americans meeting the same fate.
Despite these sobering figures, he noted that there continues to be division within the United States regarding its stance on supporting Israel.
Williams also made it clear that his support for the Middle Eastern nation remains steadfast, and he will not remain silent in the face of this ongoing conflict.
He pledged to do everything within his power to ensure that Israel emerges victorious.
Additionally, he mentioned that his office has already been in contact with the Capitol Police, urging them to initiate a thorough investigation into the removal of the sign.
After the initial sign was taken down, Representative Williams promptly replaced it with two new signs displaying the same message, “I Stand With Israel,” outside his office.
“More than 35 Americans have been killed or are still missing along with more than 1,000 Israeli’s. Yet our nation is divided on standing united with Israel. My support for Israel is unmoved and I will not be silenced. We must do all that is required to ensure their victory. My office has contacted Capitol Police, who will be opening an investigation,” Williams said.
Furthermore, he shared a video on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, featuring these new signs, reaffirming his commitment to this cause.
Following the announcement, the U.S. Capitol Police issued a statement, confirming the launch of an investigation into the said incident, demonstrating the seriousness of the matter.
The news came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that 27 Americans were killed and 14 U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for. John Kirby, a White House spokesperson on national security issues, confirmed the news on Thursday.
“Tragically, the number of innocent lives claimed by Hamas’s heinous attacks continues to rise,” Blinken said during a press conference in Israel, standing alongside Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Among those, we now know that at least 25 American citizens were killed.”
