Amnesty Report Accuses Hamas of Oct. 7 Crimes Against Humanity

Amnesty International accused Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups of committing crimes against humanity during their October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and in the subsequent treatment of hostages, in a report released this week that detailed a widespread and systematic assault on civilians.

The 173-page investigation concluded that the groups violated international humanitarian law through acts including murder, extermination, imprisonment, torture, enforced disappearance, assault, sexual violence, and other inhumane treatment. Hamas bore primary responsibility, according to the report, with lesser involvement from allies such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, and some unaffiliated Palestinian civilians from Gaza. The organization found that fighters were instructed to target civilians, based on an analysis of attack patterns, communications among militants, and statements from group leaders.

Amnesty's researchers interviewed 70 individuals, including survivors, victims' families, forensic experts, and medical professionals. They visited attack sites and examined more than 350 videos and photographs depicting the assault...