Elie Wiesel condemns Hamas' 'child sacrifice'

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate, accused Hamas of child sacrifice for firing rockets at Israel from populated areas of Gaza.

In paid full-page advertisements in major newspapers in the United States, Canada and Britain Wednesday, the author and political activist noted Jews rejected the concept of child sacrifice 3,500 years ago. "Now it's Hamas' turn," Wiesel, 85, wrote.

Over 1,800 Palestinians were killed in month-long fighting in Gaza, a conflict currently under a cease-fire. Many victims were civilians who died during Israeli bombardment, and 432 were Gazans age 17 and under, the Gaza Health Ministry reported. The Israel Defense Forces has contended the targets, rocket launch sites, were concealed within population centers, and although Israel warned of impending airstrikes, Gazan authorities typically ordered civilians to stay in place.

The London Times declined to publish Wiesel's advertisement.