Human Rights Watch report highlights war crimes committed by Hamas and Israel amid Gaza conflict
GAZA / TEL AVIV — Amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel, violations by both sides have escalated, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The HRW report confirmed that Hamas committed numerous war crimes during its surprise attack on Israel on 7 October. The report details dozens of serious violations of international humanitarian law at civilian sites, including intentional murder, hostage-taking, and other grave crimes.
The report also documents the Israeli authorities’ actions in Gaza, including cutting off basic services and severely restricting the entry of aid. HRW highlights that these measures amount to collective punishment, constituting a war crime.
Ida Sawyer, Director of the Crisis, Conflict, and Arms Division at HRW, stated that atrocities committed by one side do not justify atrocities by the other. She emphasized the need to address the root causes of the conflict and to hold perpetrators of serious crimes accountable for the benefit of both Israelis and Palestinians.