Hamas committed numerous crimes against humanity on October 7: HRW
Al Jazeera
Palestinian armed group slams the Human Rights Watch report as full of ‘lies and blatant bias’.
Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed numerous crimes against humanity, including summary killings and sexual violence, during their attacks on Israel on October 7, a report issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.
The surprise attack on Israel aimed to kill civilians and take the maximum number of captives, according to the report, released on Wednesday. Hamas slammed the publication, saying it is full of “lies and blatant bias”.
Based on interviews with 144 witnesses and extensive photo and video documentation, the report said Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, and at least four other Palestinian armed groups identified as taking part in the attacks “committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity against civilians”.
“It’s impossible for us to put a number on the specific instances,” HRW associate director Belkis Wille said, but “there were obviously hundreds on that day.”
The crimes noted include “deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects; wilful killing of persons in custody; cruel and other inhumane treatment; sexual and gender-based violence; hostage taking; mutilation and despoiling (robbing) of bodies; use of human shields; and pillage and looting”.
