Human Rights Watch reports war crimes in Hamas-led attack on Israel

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

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

However, the report has also been criticized, notably by NGO Monitor, which accuses HRW of bias against Israel and questions the timing and motives behind its publication.