BLOOMFIELD HILLS (WWJ) -- The leader of a Jewish organization in Metro Detroit says the deadly attacks by Hamas on Israel that began over the weekend should be universally condemned.
Speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950 Monday morning, Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee in Bloomfield Hills, said: “This is the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust...in one day, since the Holocaust."
"And these are civilians," the rabbi said. "I have friends that don't know what happened to their son, who's at a peace music festival where 260 people were killed, were gunned down and slaughtered."
These comment come as the fighting between Israel and Hamas is intensifying after the militant group launched an unprecedented incursion into Israel on Saturday.
CBS News reports Israel has announced a complete siege of Gaza, meaning it will cut off food, water and electricity.
Officials say more than 1,500 people have been killed, including at least nine Americans.
Rabbi Lopatin said Metro Detroit's Jewish community is closely watching these shocking developments overseas.
"It's just devastating to see the civilians taken prisoner and brought and paraded through the streets of Gaza," Lopatin said. "You know, it's terrorism, but also the citizens of Gaza must be condemned; those people in the streets who were cheering, it has to be condemned."
"And I am shocked that Representative (Rashida) Tlaib is not calling out Hamas and condemning them. Do it for the sake of the Palestinian people, (so) that we realize the Palestinian people are condemning this kind of terrorism and slaughter."
Lopatin noted that, overall, the Middle East has been seeing a time of peace.
“We are in a time of hope. We have the Abraham Accords, we have so many Arab countries that are beginning to make peace and benefit from peace.”
There have been rallies supporting Hamas’ attacks, and people saying this is a positive thing for Palestinians, but Rabbi Lopatin said this is not the case and that many Palestinians are condemning the terrorist assault.
“Supporting this terrorism is the worst thing for Palestinians. Killing Jews civilians and innocent people that’s not the way to support any cause,” he said.
Listen to Carlson's complete interview with the rabbi here, and stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for continuing coverage of this story.