The Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned today’s statements by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said,“Itis important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation. They have seen their landsteadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their plight have beenvanishing.”
“Israel left Gaza voluntarily and the Secretary General and the world knows it," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper,SWC Associate Dean and Global Social Action Director.
“Any wall or fence built is only because of Hamas terrorism and he and the world know it. Hamas terroristsinvaded sovereign territory of a UN member state, not disputed territories, and the Secretary General and the world knows this too," he added.
“If 40 infants of any nation would have be slaughtered by terrorists, which country would accept a cease firebefore such Nazis were eliminated! The world led by Secretary General Gutteres must demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and let Israel eliminate the terrorist threatonce and for all," Cooper concluded.
Earlier in the day, Center officials lead by Rabbi Cooper met with a senior official in the SecretaryGenerals’ office where they pressed for:
1. Mobilization of theinternational community to gain the immediate unconditional release of all the hostages.
2. Immediate Action over the increasing use of UNRWA schools and facilities as staging areas for missile strikes and other terrorist activity.
3. Early warnings for the IDF when they are approaching an area where Gazan youth are being used as suicide bombers and human shields.
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rightsorganizations in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament(Parlatino).