Multiple independent reports by organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry document that Hamas-led Palestinian armed
- Graham Healy
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This is what the FREE PALESTINE Marches were supporting Hamas Terrorism
Graham Healy
Fri 26 June 26
Multiple independent reports by organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry document that Hamas-led Palestinian armed groups committed widespread war crimes and crimes against humanity during the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel.
Key Findings from Major Reports
Human Rights Watch (July 2024, 236-page report: “I Can’t Erase All the Blood from My Mind”) Hamas’ Qassam Brigades and at least four other Palestinian armed groups carried out coordinated attacks on civilian communities (kibbutzim, moshavim), the Supernova music festival, roads, and military bases. Violations included:
Murder and indiscriminate attacks on civilians (deliberate killings at close range, shootings at fleeing people, grenades/RPGs into shelters, burning houses).
Hostage-taking (251 people abducted to Gaza, an ongoing war crime for civilians).
Other acts: sexual and gender-based violence, mutilation, pillage, use of human shields.
At least 815 civilians killed out of ~1,195 total deaths (including foreigners); many burned, shot, or killed while hiding.
These constituted war crimes (e.g., targeting civilians, hostage-taking) and crimes against humanity (widespread/systematic attack on civilians). HRW verified evidence from 144+ interviews, 280+ photos/videos (including bodycam footage from attackers), and other sources. Hamas coordinated the assault, which was premeditated.
Amnesty International (December 2025 report: “Targeting Civilians”)
Confirms
Hamas and other groups committed murder, hostage-taking, torture, sexual violence, and other abuses against civilians and hostages in Gaza. These amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity (including extermination, imprisonment, enforced disappearance, rape/sexual violence, and other inhumane acts). Vast majority of civilian deaths on Oct 7 were by Palestinian fighters; hostages were unlawfully detained.
UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (2024 detailed findings, A/HRC/56/CRP.3) Members of Hamas’ military wing, other Palestinian armed groups, and some civilians deliberately killed, injured, mistreated, took hostages, and committed sexual/gender-based violence (SGBV) against civilians and hors de combat soldiers. The attack was premeditated, coordinated, and intentionally targeted civilians across multiple sites. Acts constitute war crimes (and possible crimes against humanity). The Commission documented mass killings, torture, mistreatment, and evidence of SGBV via open-source videos, witness accounts, etc.
Additional Context
Sexual violence: Multiple reports (including a dedicated Israeli Civil Commission) document systematic rape, sexual torture, mutilation, and gender-based violence as part of the attacks and against hostages.
Scale: Attacks hit ~19 kibbutzim/moshavim, festivals, roads, etc. Fighters from Hamas and allies (e.g., Palestinian Islamic Jihad) breached the border and used bodycams to record atrocities.
Hostages: Many remain in Gaza or were killed; holding civilians is a war crime.
These findings align with ICC arrest warrant requests for Hamas leaders on similar charges.
Israeli forces also faced scrutiny for actions in Gaza afterward (separate reports document alleged Israeli violations), but the Oct 7 events themselves are extensively documented as deliberate atrocities by Palestinian armed groups against civilians.
For full details, see the primary sources:
HRW full report (PDF available on their site).
UN CRP.3 detailed findings.
Amnesty report.
These are based on verified evidence from survivors, forensics, digital media, and investigations https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/07/17/questions-and-answers-hamas-led-armed-groups-october-7-2023-assault-israel?utm_source=chatgpt.com
