International Legal Violations Hamas Attack of October 7, 2023

• # Hamas
• # Human Rights Violations
• # IHRL
• # Israel
• # October 7
• # Reports
• # Terrorism

CONTENT WARNING: THIS REPORT CONTAINS EXPLICIT GRAPHIC CONTENT, INCLUDING IMAGES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF KILLINGS, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND OTHER FORMS OF EXTREME VIOLENCE, WHICH MAY BE DISTURBING OR TRIGGERING TO SOME READERS

This report delineates several instances of international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL) violations perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups on October 7, 2023. The instances of violations presented herein are not exhaustive and constitute only a partial representation of the atrocities perpetrated during the mentioned
period.

The comprehensive evidence in this report unequivocally establishes the October 7th attack by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups as a severe violation of fundamental international laws and basic human principles. Though only a fraction of the transgressions committed, the atrocities detailed herein affirm the breach of specific International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) rules.

Considerable efforts by states, human rights defenders, international organizations, civil society, and others have been invested in establishing bodies and mechanisms, particularly within the United Nations, to uphold international law and ensure accountability for those who violate it. These UN mechanisms must be leveraged to address the atrocities of October 7th.

In light of the above, we urge the implementation of all available actions to address the human rights and humanitarian law violations outlined in this document, along with the following specific measures:

• •     1- Advocate and activate accountability measures for the atrocities committed and raise awareness about the documented violations, both within the United Nations system and globally, and to garner support for preventive and accountability measures.
  •     2- Report the findings to the relevant bodies, including those of the United Nations. Implementation of preventive measures to deter future violations, such as increasedmonitoring, diplomatic pressure, and peacekeeping efforts, to mitigate the risk of further human rights abuses.
  •     3- Monitor the situation closely, providing regular updates and follow-up reports to assess the progress made in addressing the documented violations and implementing accountability measures.

The acts committed on October 7th represent the gravest violations of basic human rights, demanding urgent intervention and unwavering commitment to justice.

Read the full report here.