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Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/07/17/october-7-crimes-against-humanity-war-crimes-hamas-led-groups
Human Rights Watch Details Hamas's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes
(Human Rights Watch) Hamas-led armed groups committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity against civilians during the Oct. 7 assault on Israel, as detailed in a Human Rights Watch report released on Wednesday. The 236-page report, "I Can't Erase All the Blood from My Mind": Palestinian Armed Groups' October 7 Assault on Israel," documents several dozen cases of serious violations of international humanitarian law by Palestinian armed groups. Palestinian fighters committed summary killings, hostage-taking and other war crimes, and the crimes against humanity of murder and wrongful imprisonment. "The Hamas-led assault on October 7 was designed to kill civilians and take as many people as possible hostage," said Ida Sawyer, crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch. Between October 2023 and June 2024, Human Rights Watch interviewed 144 people including 94 Israeli and other nationals who witnessed the Oct. 7 assault, victims' family members, first responders, and medical experts. Researchers also verified and analyzed over 280 photographs and videos taken during the assault and posted on social media. On Oct. 7, the armed groups attacked at least 19 kibbutzim and 5 moshavim, the cities of Sderot and Ofakim, 2 music festivals, and a beach party. Palestinian fighters fired directly at civilians, often at close range, as they tried to flee, and at people driving through the area. The attackers hurled grenades, shot into shelters, and fired rocket-propelled grenades at homes. They set houses on fire, burning and choking people, and forcing out others whom they shot or captured. An AFP investigation determined that 815 of 1,195 people killed on Oct. 7 were civilians. The armed groups took as hostages 251 civilians and Israeli security force personnel and took them to Gaza. As of July 1, 116 remained in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 42 who had been killed. Bodies of another 35 who were killed were returned to Israel. Killing civilians and taking hostages were central aims of the planned attack, not an afterthought.