Amnesty International on Thursday issued its first formal accusation that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed crimes against humanity during and after the October 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel — the assault that ignited the most recent and devastating phase of the Gaza–Israel conflict.
In its 173-page report, the human rights organization states that Palestinian armed groups violated international humanitarian law, committed war crimes, and carried out crimes against humanity during the coordinated attacks on communities in southern Israel. The assault resulted in the killing of dozens of civilians and the abduction of numerous hostages, prompting a massive military response by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Allegations of Systematic Abuse of Hostages
While Amnesty had previously attributed war crimes to Hamas, this is the first time the organization has determined that the group’s actions likely constitute crimes against humanity. According to the report, Hamas and affiliated groups continued to violate international law through the detention, mistreatment, and concealment of hostages taken on October 7.
The organization emphasizes that the treatment of captives, the withholding of information, and the use of violence against civilians represent “grave breaches” of international human rights and humanitarian law.
A Mass Killing Described as Possible Extermination
Amnesty International further states that the mass killing of civilians during the initial attack may meet the legal threshold of “extermination”, a category of crimes against humanity under international law.
The findings come as the Gaza conflict continues to inflict thousands of casualties and fuel a severe humanitarian crisis, heightening global concerns over human rights violations committed by all parties involved.
