Human Rights Watch Details War Crimes in Hamas-Led Attack on Israel

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a comprehensive report on Wednesday detailing a series of war crimes committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the October 7 onslaught on Israel. The report, one of the most in-depth international studies on the attack, lists numerous violations, including attacks on civilians, sexual violence, and the use of human shields, among others. HRW’s findings challenge previous narratives and call for accountability amidst the ongoing conflict.

This HRW report comes at a critical time, highlighting the brutal nature of the attacks that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. The organization points to the highly organized nature of the assault, contradicting claims that civilians from Gaza were primarily responsible for the violence.

However, the report also faces criticism, notably from NGO Monitor, which accuses HRW of bias against Israel and questions the timing and motivations behind the publication.