SWC Grateful to Pope Francis For Calls to Immediately Release Hostages Held by Hamas

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is extending its gratitude to Pope Francis for calling for the immediate release of the Israelis and foreign nationals held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, CatholicNews Service reported on Wednesday. Healso affirmed Israel’s right to defend its citizens against terrorism.

Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean andGlobal Social Action Director issued the following statement:

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center is grateful that His Holiness Pope Francis has added his powerful moral voice to the globaldemands for the immediate release of all captives taken to Gaza from Israel by Hamas during their mass murdering invasion of Southern Israel last Saturday.”

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communicationsat malkin@wiesenthal.com or Shawn Rodgers at srodgers@wiesenthal.com, join the Centeron Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holdsconsultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).