Middle East, “numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity”. The shocking report on October 7 –

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has published a report on the October 7 attack in Israel, accusing the armed wing of Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigades, and at least four other Palestinian armed groups of committing “numerous war crimes and crimes once morest humanity” during the assault, which triggered ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian fighters are accused of “summary killings, hostage-taking” and other war crimes and crimes once morest humanity. Governments with influence over armed groups, HRW stresses with the publication of the 236-page report, should push for the urgent release of civilians held hostage and for those responsible to be brought to justice. The investigation documents several cases of serious violations of international humanitarian law by Palestinian armed groups. “HRW’s research has established that the Hamas-led assault on October 7 was designed to kill civilians and take as many people hostage as possible,” said Ida Sawyer, the organization’s director of crisis and conflict. “The atrocities of October 7 should prompt a global call for an end to all abuses once morest civilians in Israel and Palestine.”

HRW says it spoke to 144 people between October 2023 and last June, including 94 Israelis, witnesses to the October 7 attack, victims’ families, rescue workers, and medics. The researchers also verified and analyzed more than 280 photos and videos, materials posted on social media or given directly to HRW that relate to the hours of the attack. At many sites, according to the organization, “Palestinian fighters shot directly at civilians, often at close range,” even “as they tried to flee,” threw grenades and rockets, set homes on fire, caused enormous suffering to people inside, took dozens of people hostage, and summarily killed others. The armed groups are accused of committing “numerous violations of the laws of war,” amounting to war crimes, including “attacks once morest civilians and civilian objects, deliberate killing of detained persons, cruel and inhuman treatment, crimes involving sexual and gender-based violence, hostage-taking, mutilation, use of human shields, looting and pillaging.”

The organization said further investigations into other potential crimes once morest humanity were needed. Hamas authorities responded to HRW by claiming that their forces had been ordered not to target civilians. More than nine months following the October 7 attack, HRW stressed that “all parties to the armed conflict in Gaza and Israel must fully respect international humanitarian law,” and that Palestinian armed groups in the Strip “must immediately and unconditionally release civilians held hostage” and take “measures once morest members responsible for war crimes.” “Atrocities do not justify atrocities,” Sawyer said. “To stop the endless cycle of abuses in Israel and Palestine, it is crucial to address the root causes and hold those responsible for serious crimes to account. This is in the interests of both Palestinians and Israelis.”