Human Rights Watch has accused armed factions led by Hamas of committing numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity against civilians during the October 7 attack on southern Israel.
According to a newly declassified report released on Wednesday, the organization documented multiple violations of the laws of war that amount to war crimes.
It also criticized the Israeli response as disproportionate, stating that “atrocities do not justify committing atrocities.”
The report, titled “I Cannot Erase All Those Bloodstains From My Mind,” spans 236 pages and provides extensive documentation of the October 7 assault by Palestinian armed groups on Israel. It highlights severe violations of international humanitarian law, including deliberate killings and hostage-taking, which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Human Rights Watch called on influential governments to pressure Palestinian armed groups for the immediate release of all civilian hostages.
The report states that the military wing of Hamas, along with at least four other Palestinian armed factions, was involved in these war crimes and crimes against humanity during the October 7, 2023, attack.
Between October 2023 and June 2024, Human Rights Watch interviewed 144 individuals, including 94 Israelis, foreign nationals who witnessed the attack, family members of victims, medical personnel, and experts.
Researchers also verified and analyzed over 280 photographs and videos taken during the attack, many of which were shared on social media or directly with the organization.
The report indicates that in many attack sites, Palestinian fighters fired directly at civilians, often from close range, targeting those attempting to flee or driving in the area.
Attackers used grenades, shot into shelters, launched rockets at homes, and set fire to residences, causing deaths by burning or suffocation and forcing others out, where they were then shot or captured.
Dozens of hostages were taken, and summary executions were carried out.
The report concludes that the attack was aimed at a civilian population, with the deliberate killing and hostage-taking being central objectives rather than incidental or isolated acts.
The coordinated nature of these actions indicates a premeditated plan to target civilians.
In response to questions from Human Rights Watch, Hamas authorities stated that their forces were instructed not to target civilians and to adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law.
However, the organization’s investigations found evidence contradicting these claims, with survivor testimonies and verified media showing Palestinian fighters actively seeking out and killing civilians.
The report also criticized the Israeli response, documenting the cutting off of essential services to Gaza’s population and preventing nearly all aid from entering, which constitutes collective punishment—a war crime.
The report states that since the attacks began on October 7, Israeli forces have conducted intensive airstrikes and ground operations, killing over 37,900 Palestinians as of July 1, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
These operations have destroyed large parts of Gaza and displaced the majority of its residents.
Human Rights Watch emphasized that atrocities on one side do not justify atrocities on the other.
To break the cycle of ongoing violations in Israel and Palestine, addressing the root causes and holding perpetrators of serious crimes accountable is essential. This approach, they argue, benefits both Palestinians and Israelis.
