Wiesenthal Center Calls for Universal Condemnation of Hamas’ Use of Women and Children as Human Shields

The Simon Wiesenthal Center called on major religious and political leaders and NGOs throughout the world to issue a universal condemnation on Hamas’ tactics in Gaza of deliberately using their women and children as human shields. “These organizations,” said Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance, “which are often quick to condemn Israel, have remained totally silent as Hamas introduces a concept of warfare not known since the Stone Age, the deliberate use of women and children as sacrificial lambs.”

The Center said it was a well-established fact that the military wing of Hamas has purposefully placed virtually all of its weapons in heavily populated civilian areas - near schools, mosques, and shopping centers. Although Israel has risked the element of surprise and warned tens of thousands of Palestinians via cell messages and leaflets to immediately leave the area, Hamas leaders go out of their way to encourage them to stay and become martyrs.

“War is always a last resort with horrible consequences, but even war has an etiquette. In the modern era, no one has seen a philosophy of life that is so barbaric and so debases human dignity as that of Hamas leaders using their women and children as human fodder. Such behavior desecrates every religion and deserves strong, universal condemnation,” said Rabbi Hier.

For more information, contact the Center's Public Relations department, 310.553.9036

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.