Hamas rejects HRW accusation of war crimes in October 7 attack
Al JazeeraJul 25
Report: Hamas-Led Armed Groups Committed War Crimes on Oct. 7
Above: Thousands of Israelis gather at the "United We Bring Them Home" rally in Hostages Square on May 18th, 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Image copyright: David Silverman/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Wednesday claiming that Hamas' military wing alongside at least four other Palestinian armed groups committed "numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity" during the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel.
The crimes range from intentionally killing and kidnapping civilians, mutilation of bodies, use of human shields, and looting to gender-based and sexual violence — including "the posting without consent of sexualized images" online.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
This report is too little too late and only demonstrates HRW's token "balance" to stave off criticisms of its anti-Israel bias. It took HRW over nine months to announce that Hamas committed atrocities on Oct. 7, yet it has been quick to attack Israel at any opportunity. Indeed, a senior editor at HRW left the organization soon after Oct. 7, saying that it has become tainted with antisemitic sentiment.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Regardless of what happened on Oct. 7, none of it justifies Israel's genocidal response. Additionally, the report failed to mention casualties caused by the Israeli military, which utilized its infamous Hannibal directive to kill people before they could be taken into Gaza. HRW also relied on testimony from Zaka, which circulated now-debunked claims about alleged atrocities. This report only serves to manufacture consent for Israel's crimes.