Palestinian war crimes

Determining the applicability of laws of war to militant groups is a difficult question, as both the Council of Europe and International Committee of the Red Cross note that international law traditionally treats war and terrorism as separate legal categories.{{cite web |title=War and terrorism |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/war-and-terrorism |website=Council of Europe |access-date=8 April 2024 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031041143/https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/war-and-terrorism |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Thynne |first1=Kelisiana |title=Better a war criminal or a terrorist? A comparative study of war crimes and counterterrorism legislation |url=https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/better-a-war-criminal-or-a-terrorist-a-comparative-study-916 |website=International Review of the Red Cross |date=18 February 2022 |access-date=8 April 2024 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031042646/https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/better-a-war-criminal-or-a-terrorist-a-comparative-study-916 |url-status=live }} The Israeli, American, EU, UK, Japanese, and Canadian governments define Hamas as a terrorist group. However, many countries have disagreed with this characterization and have engaged with Hamas as a legitimate political entity.{{cite web |last1=Marks |first1=Monica |title=What the World Gets Wrong About Hamas |url=https://time.com/6329776/hamas-isis-gaza/ |website=Time Magazine |date=30 October 2023 |access-date=8 April 2024 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031004527/https://time.com/6329776/hamas-isis-gaza/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=What is Hamas? The group that rules the Gaza Strip has fought several rounds of war with Israel |url=https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=AP News |language=en}} While the term "international law" conventionally pertains to states, it has also been applied to insurgent and terrorist armed forces.{{Cite web |title=War and terrorism - Manual for Human Rights Education with Young people - www.coe.int |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/war-and-terrorism |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Manual for Human Rights Education with Young people |language=en-GB}} Accordingly, even insurgencies deemed lawful under international law that meet the criteria of "just cause" must also adhere to principles of "just means" as well.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Hamas Terror Attacks and International Law |url=https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2023/10/hamas-terror-attacks-and-international-law/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.jurist.org |language=en-US}} Regarding Hamas and its combatants, even if they have a presumptive right to fight against what they term as an "illegal occupation," they must still abide by legal rules of "discrimination", "proportionality", and "military necessity" under international law as conventional states do.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Questions and Answers: October 2023 Hostilities between Israel and Palestinian Armed Groups {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/09/questions-and-answers-october-2023-hostilities-between-israel-and-palestinian-armed |access-date=2024-04-08 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-05-20 |title=Israel versus Hamas: Proportionality, Perfidy and the Law of War |url=https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2021/05/louis-rene-beres-israel-hamas-war/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.jurist.org |language=en-US}}

According to Human Rights Watch, "international humanitarian law, through the well-established doctrine of command responsibility" also applies "to political and other leaders insofar as they have 'effective responsibility and control' over the actors in question...thus making its leadership also criminally liable."{{Cite web |title=Suicide Bombing Attacks Against Israeli Civilians |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/isrl-pa/ISRAELPA1002-01.htm |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.hrw.org}}

According to Amnesty International, the "prohibition on targeting civilians is absolute in international law".{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2006 |title=Palestinian Authority: Hamas must stop targeting of civilians |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/mde210062006en.pdf |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=amnesty.org |publisher=Amnesty International}}

Human Rights Watch has declared that the "scale and systematic nature" of Hamas' targeting of Israeli civilians "meet the definition of a crime against humanity", and that its particular use of suicide bombings taking "place in the context of violence that amounts to armed conflict...are also war crimes."{{Cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/isrl-pa/ISRAELPA1002-01.htm |title=I. SUMMARY |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.hrw.org}}

{{main|List of Palestinian suicide attacks}}According to Amnesty International, "the campaign of suicide bombings and deliberate attacks against Israeli civilians by Hamas and other armed groups constitutes crimes against humanity.

Between September 1993 and the outbreak of the Second Intifada in September 2000, "Palestinian groups carried out fourteen suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians, mostly in 1996-97, killing more than 120 and wounding over 550. Hamas said it committed most of the attacks."{{Cite web |date=October 2002 |title=Suicide Bombing Attacks Against Israeli Civilians |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/isrl-pa/ISRAELPA1002-03.htm |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.hrw.org |publisher=Human Rights Watch}}

In the decade between 2000 and 2010, there were 146 suicide attacks committed by Palestinian militant groups against Israelis, resulting in 516 fatalities.{{Cite journal |last=Schweitzer |first=Yoram |date=October 2010 |title=The Rise and Fall of Suicide Bombings in the Second Intifada |url=https://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/systemfiles/(FILE)1289896644.pdf |journal=Strategic Assessment |publisher=The Institute for National Security Studies, Tel Aviv University |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=39}} A 2007 Harvard University study of 135 Palestinian suicide attacks conducted between September 2000 and August 2005 determined Hamas responsible for 39.9% of such attacks during that period.[http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/benmelech/files/JEP_0807.pdf Human Capital and the Productivity of Suicide Bombers pdf] Journal of Economic Perspectives Volume 21, Number 3, Summer 2007. Pages 223–238 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127151257/http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/benmelech/files/JEP_0807.pdf |date=2013-01-27 }}

{{main|Use of human shields by Hamas}}

Israel has accused Hamas of using human shields in the Gaza Strip, saying that Hamas has purposely attempted to shield itself from Israeli attacks by storing weapons in civilian infrastructure, launching rockets from residential areas, and telling residents to ignore Israeli warnings to flee. Israel has also accused Hamas of maintaining command and control bunkers and tunnel infrastructure below hospitals. Hamas has denied using hospitals to shield any command centre,{{cite web | last=Marsi | first=Federica | title=What is a 'human shield' and why is Israel using the term in Gaza? | website=Al Jazeera | date=November 13, 2023 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/13/what-is-a-human-shield-and-why-is-israel-using-the-term-in-gaza | access-date=April 8, 2024}} while it has previously made remarks expressing support for Palestinians refusing to flee areas Israel has targeted.{{Cite news |last=Worrall |first=Patrick |date=24 July 2014 |title=Does Hamas use civilians as human shields? |work=Channel 4 News |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-hamas-civilians-human-shields |url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102215122/https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-hamas-civilians-human-shields |archive-date=2 November 2023}}

The Israeli accusations have been supported by NATO,{{Cite journal |title=Hamas' use of human shields in Gaza |url=https://stratcomcoe.org/cuploads/pfiles/hamas_human_shields.pdf |journal=NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence}} and during the Gaza war European Union nations condemned Hamas for allegedly using hospitals as human shields, while the Secretary-General of the United Nations said "Hamas and other militants use civilians as human shields".{{Cite web |title=Secretary-General's press conference on the Middle East {{!}} United Nations Secretary-General |url=https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/2023-11-06/secretary-generals-press-conference-the-middle-east |access-date=8 April 2024 |website=www.un.org}}{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=EU nations condemn Hamas for what they describe as use of hospitals, civilians as 'human shields' |url=https://apnews.com/article/european-union-condemn-hamas-human-shields-2c0d1c04cb38fc4acce37d8d624e1a3f |access-date=8 April 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}} In 2023, HRW stated "Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups need to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians under their control from the effects of attacks and not use civilians as 'human shields.'"{{cite web |title=Gaza: Unlawful Israeli Hospital Strikes Worsen Health Crisis |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/14/gaza-unlawful-israeli-hospital-strikes-worsen-health-crisis |website=Human Rights Watch |date=14 November 2023 |access-date=8 April 2024}}

{{further|Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel}}

Between 2000 and 2021, over 17,000 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza.{{Cite journal |last=Pinfold |first=Rob |date=2022 |title=Security, Terrorism, and Territorial Withdrawal: Critically Reassessing the Lessons of Israel's "Unilateral Disengagement" from the Gaza Strip |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364458032 |journal=International Studies Perspectives |pages=10}} Hamas' use of indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilians has been widely condemned as a war crime.{{Cite web |date=2012-12-24 |title=Gaza: Palestinian Rockets Unlawfully Targeted Israeli Civilians {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/12/24/gaza-palestinian-rockets-unlawfully-targeted-israeli-civilians |access-date=2024-04-10 |language=en}}[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/ban-kimoon-lsquoappalledrsquo-by-gaza-destruction-1451889.html Ban Ki-moon 'appalled' by Gaza destruction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925193003/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/ban-kimoon-lsquoappalledrsquo-by-gaza-destruction-1451889.html |date=25 September 2015 }}, The Independent 20 January 2009 Palestinian UN Observer Ibrahim Kraishi has equally decried the attacks, stating that "every rocket and mortar fired from Gaza toward Israel is a “crime against humanity.”{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2014 |title=Palestinian UN rep says every missile fired from Gaza at Israel is 'a crime against humanity' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-un-rep-says-every-gaza-missile-a-crime-against-humanity/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=timesofisrael.com |publisher=The Times of Israel}}

{{main|Second Intifada|Civilian casualties in the Second Intifada}}

During the Second Intifada, the majority{{ambiguous|date=June 2024}} of Israeli casualties were civilian non-combatants, with Hamas conducting numerous{{ambiguous|date=June 2024}} attacks deliberately targeting civilians.{{cite journal |last1=Manekin |first1=Devorah |title=Violence Against Civilians in the Second Intifada The Moderating Effect of Armed Group Structure on Opportunistic Violence |journal=Comparative Political Studies |date=October 2013 |volume=46 |issue=10 |pages=1285 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258130364 |publisher=Sage Journals|doi=10.1177/0010414013489382 }}{{cite book |last1=Milton-Edwards |first1=Beverley |title=Violence in Islamic Thought from European Imperialism to the Post-Colonial Era |date=2021 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |page=321 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctv1ns7mwk.18 |chapter=MANAGING VIOLENT CONFLICT: HUDNA AND TAHDIʾA, BEYOND A STRATEGIC PAUSE|jstor=10.3366/j.ctv1ns7mwk.18 |isbn=978-1-4744-8550-0 }}

Prominent examples include:{{Expand section|date=April 2024}}

{{main|2014 Gaza war}}

According to the Jerusalem Post, during the 2014 Gaza War, 20 civilians from Shuja'iyya were killed while protesting against Hamas.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Report-Hamas-executes-alleged-spies-shoots-protesters-in-Gaza-369331 |title=Report: Hamas executes alleged spies, shoots protesters in Gaza |first=Ariel Ben |last=Solomon |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=29 July 2014 |access-date=8 April 2024}} A few days later, Hamas reportedly killed two Palestinians in Gaza and wounded ten after a scuffle broke out over food handouts.{{cite web | url= http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/29/hamas-police-shoot-kill-starving-gazans-a-day-after-executing-protesters | title= Hamas Police Shoot, Kill Starving Gazans a Day After Executing Protesters | publisher= Algemeiner.com | date= 29 July 2014 | access-date= 8 April 2024 }}

The IDF stated on 31 July that more than 280 Hamas rockets{{cite web | url= http://www.idfblog.com/blog/2014/07/31/hamas-launches-rockets-civilians-gaza | title= Hamas Launches Rockets on Civilians in Gaza | publisher= Idfblog.com | date= 31 July 2014 | access-date= 8 April 2024 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140822025714/http://www.idfblog.com/blog/2014/07/31/hamas-launches-rockets-civilians-gaza/ | archive-date= 22 August 2014}} malfunctioned and fell inside the Gaza strip, hitting sites including Al-Shifa Hospital and the Al-Shati refugee camp, killing at least 11 and wounding dozens.{{cite news |last1=Mohyeldin |first1=Ayman |last2=Nassar |first2=Paul Ziad |last3=Smith |first3=Alexander |title=Strikes Near Gaza's Shifa Hospital, Refugee Camp Kill at Least 10 |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/middle-east-unrest/strikes-near-gazas-shifa-hospital-refugee-camp-kill-least-10-n166571 | work= NBC News | date= 28 July 2014}} Out of the Hamas denied that any of its rockets hit the Gaza Strip.,{{cite news |url=http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/07/30/israel-says-10-percent-hamas-rockets-misfire-fall-gaza-strip |title=Israel: 10 percent of Hamas rockets misfired, landed in Gaza Strip |work=World Tribune |date=30 July 2014 |access-date=8 April 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801101226/http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/07/30/israel-says-10-percent-hamas-rockets-misfire-fall-gaza-strip/ |archive-date=1 August 2014}}{{cite news | url= http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/10-Palestinians-killed-in-failed-Gazan-rocket-attack-IDF-says-369180 | title= 10 Palestinians killed in failed Gazan rocket attack on Israel, IDF says | publisher= JPost | date= 28 July 2014 |access-date=8 April 2024}} but Palestinian sources{{who|date=August 2024}} said numerous rocket launches ended up falling in Gaza communities and that scores of people have been killed or injured. Israeli Military sources said the failed Hamas launches increased amid heavy Israeli air and artillery strikes throughout the Gaza Strip. They said the failed launches reflected poorly assembled rockets as well as the rush to load and fire projectiles before they were spotted by Israeli aircraft.{{cite web | url= http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/07/30/israel-says-10-percent-hamas-rockets-misfire-fall-gaza-strip/ | title= Israel: 10 percent of Hamas rockets misfired, landed in Gaza Strip | work= World Tribune | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140808071549/http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/07/30/israel-says-10-percent-hamas-rockets-misfire-fall-gaza-strip/ | archive-date= 8 August 2014 }} While the Al-Shifa Hospital incident is disputed, early news reports have suggested that the strike was from an Israeli drone missile.{{cite magazine |last1=Makarechi |first1=Kia | title= Who's Responsible for Bombing Near Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital? | url= http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/07/gaza-shifa-hospital-bombing | access-date= 8 April 2024 | magazine= Vanity Fair | date= 28 July 2014}}{{cite news | last1= Westcott |first1=Lucy | title= Who Fired on Gaza's Shifa Hospital? |url=http://www.newsweek.com/mysterious-case-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-262086 | access-date= 8 April 2024 | work=Newsweek | date= 30 July 2014}} UK based human rights group, Amnesty International concluded that the explosion at the Shati refugee camp on 28 July in which 13 civilians were killed was caused by a Palestinian rocket, despite Palestinian claims it was an Israeli missile.{{cite news| author1= Isabel Kershner | url= https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/world/middleeast/amnesty-international-sees-evidence-of-palestinian-war-crimes-in-14-gaza-conflict.html?mabReward=R3&action=click&pgtype=Homepage®ion=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine | title= Amnesty International Sees Evidence of Palestinian War Crimes in '14 Gaza Conflict | work= The New York Times | date = 25 March 2015 }}

{{anchor|Hamas killing of collaborators}}

Shurat HaDin filed a suit with the ICC charging Khaled Mashal with war crimes for the executions of 38 civilians.{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/israeli-group-wants-hamas-leader-to-face-war-crimes-charges-for-gaza-executions/ |title=Israeli group wants Hamas leader to face war crimes charges for Gaza executions |author=Paul Alster |work=Fox News |access-date=8 April 2024 |date=7 September 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/NGO-asks-ICC-to-indict-Hamas-leader-Khaled-Mashaal-on-war-crimes-charges-374302 |title=NGO asks ICC to indict Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on war crimes charges |date=3 September 2014 |access-date=8 April 2024}} Hamas co-founder Ayman Taha was found dead; Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported he had been shot by Hamas for maintaining contact with the intelligence services of several Arab countries; Hamas stated he was targeted by an Israeli airstrike.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

On 26 May 2015, Amnesty International released a report saying that Hamas carried out extrajudicial killings, abductions and arrests of Palestinians and used the Al-Shifa Hospital to detain, interrogate and torture suspects. It details the executions of at least 23 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel and torture of dozens of others, many victims of torture were members of the rival Palestinian movement, Fatah.{{cite web |title=Palestine (State of): 'Strangling Necks' Abductions, torture and summary killings of Palestinians by Hamas forces during the 2014 Gaza/Israel conflict |url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/mde2116432015eng.pdf |website=amnesty.org |publisher=Amnesty International |access-date=8 April 2024 |location=United Kingdom |date=26 May 2015}}{{dead link|date=March 2016}}{{cite news |title=Gaza Palestinians tortured, summarily killed by Hamas forces during 2014 conflict |url=https://www.amnesty.org/press-releases/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150527024539/https://www.amnesty.org/press-releases/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 May 2015 |access-date=8 April 2024 |work=Amnesty International |date=27 May 2015}}

{{main|Gaza war|2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel}}

File:Hamas gunmen shooting into civilian car on October 7 2023.png

On 9 October 2023 Human Rights Watch stated that Hamas's apparent targeting of civilians, indiscriminate attacks, and taking of hostages amounted to war crimes.{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/09/israel/palestine-devastating-civilian-toll-parties-flout-legal-obligations|title=Israel/Palestine: Devastating Civilian Toll as Parties Flout Legal Obligations|work=Human Rights Watch|access-date=8 April 2024|date=9 October 2023|archive-date=9 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009202840/https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/09/israel/palestine-devastating-civilian-toll-parties-flout-legal-obligations|url-status=live}} On 10 October 2023 the OHCHR stated the taking of hostages and use of human shields were war crimes.{{cite web |title=Commission of Inquiry collecting evidence of war crimes committed by all sides in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories since 7 October 2023 |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/commission-inquiry-collecting-evidence-war-crimes-committed-all-sides-israel |website=OHCHR |access-date=8 April 2024 |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022010006/https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/commission-inquiry-collecting-evidence-war-crimes-committed-all-sides-israel |url-status=live }} United Nations Human Rights chief Volker Türk noted that militant groups' "horrifying mass killings" were violations of international law.{{cite news|last1=Farge|first1=Emma|title=UN rights chief condemns Israeli 'siege' of Gaza, militants' taking of hostages|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/israeli-air-strikes-hit-residences-schools-across-gaza-un-rights-chief-2023-10-10/|website=Reuters|date=10 October 2023|access-date=8 April 2024|archive-date=22 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022010005/https://www.reuters.com/world/israeli-air-strikes-hit-residences-schools-across-gaza-un-rights-chief-2023-10-10/|url-status=live}}

{{main|Re'im music festival massacre}}

As one of the first massacres of many in the coordinated attacks on 7 October 2023, militants of the al-Qassam Brigades and other Palestinian factions entered a music festival in Re'im at {{circa|7 a.m.}} local time and murdered over 360 people, as well as taking over 40 people hostage. Considering the attack on festival goers as indiscriminate in nature, along with a lack of Israeli military presence during the massacre, it could only be considered an intentional attack against civilians.{{Cite web |date=17 November 2023 |title=Death count from Re'im music festival massacre reportedly updated to 364 – a third of Oct. 7 fatalities |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/death-count-from-massacre-at-reim-music-festival-reportedly-updated-to-364-a-third-of-oct-7-deaths/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |website=timesofisrael.com |publisher=The Times of Israel}}{{Cite web |date=9 October 2023 |title=Israeli music festival: 260 bodies recovered from site where people fled in hail of bullets |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67047034 |access-date=4 April 2024 |website=bbc.com |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}{{Cite web |last1=Browne |first1=David |last2=Dillon |first2=Nancy |last3=Grow |first3=Kory |date=15 October 2023 |title=They Wanted to Dance in Peace. And They Got Slaughtered |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/hamas-israel-nova-music-festival-massacre-1234854306/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |website=rollingstone.com |publisher=Rolling Stone}}

{{main|Be'eri massacre}}

File:Gaza envelope after coordinated surprise offensive on Israel, October 2023 (KBG GPO04).jpg volunteers assisting in the removal of bodies]]

At {{circa|7:10 a.m.}}, on 7 October 2023,{{Cite magazine |last=Margalit |first=Ruth |date=9 October 2023 |title=The Devastation of Be'eri |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-devastation-of-beeri |access-date=9 April 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker}} around 70 al-Qassam and DFLP militants had entered and attacked the kibbutz of Be'eri, taking over 130 peoples' lives,{{Cite news |last1=Shaulov |first1=Roni |last2=Zitun |first2=Yoav |date=18 October 2023 |title=Charred remains of mother, son recovered 11 days after Hamas massacre |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hy8ihip11p |access-date=9 April 2024 |newspaper=Ynetnews |publisher=Ynet}} including women (such as peace activist Vivian Silver),{{Cite news |date=2023-11-13 |title=Canadian Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver, feared to be held hostage, confirmed killed in Hamas attacks |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/israel-gaza-vivian-silver-1.7027333 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113233658/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/israel-gaza-vivian-silver-1.7027333 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=CBC News}} children,{{Cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Meg |last2=Cahlan |first2=Sarah |date=9 October 2023 |title=Video shows apparent death of Israeli hostages in Hamas custody |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/10/09/israel-hamas-hostage-death/ |access-date=9 April 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post}} toddlers, and one infant,{{cite web |date=15 December 2023 |title=Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231215-israel-social-security-data-reveals-true-picture-of-oct-7-deaths}}{{Cite web |date=7 October 2023 |title=עדויות תושבי העוטף ממתקפת הפתע על ישראל: "טובחים כאן בתינוקות" |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/local/article/14679668 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009173239/https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/local/article/14679668 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |access-date=9 April 2024 |work=Israel Hayom |language=he}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=המספרים נחשפים: נרצחו 13 ילדים, 31 נערים ו-25 מעל גיל 80 מתחילת המלחמה - וואלה! חדשות |url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/3622758 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=וואלה! |language=he}}{{Cite web |title=ynet - מלחמת 7 באוקטובר: פרטי החללים והנרצחים |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/category/51693 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=ynet |language=he}} in total claiming the lives of 10% of the farming community's residents. Dozens of homes were also burned down.{{Cite news |last1=Tzuri |first1=Matan |last2=Green Shaulov |first2=Roni |last3=Kutub |first3=Adam |date=9 October 2023 |title='After a minute, my friend was murdered in front of me' |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sktjpy11wt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010062239/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sktjpy11wt |archive-date=10 October 2023 |access-date=9 April 2024 |work=Ynet}}

{{Main|Gaza war hostage crisis}}

Human Rights Watch has stated that "Hamas and Islamic Jihad are committing war crimes by holding scores of Israelis and others as hostages in Gaza".{{cite web |date=19 October 2023 |title=Hamas, Islamic Jihad: Holding Hostages is a War Crime |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/19/hamas-islamic-jihad-holding-hostages-war-crime |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020003656/https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/19/hamas-islamic-jihad-holding-hostages-war-crime |archive-date=20 October 2023 |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=Human Rights Watch}} During the Hamas attack approximately 200 people were taken hostage by militants. Hostages taken during the 7 October attacks by Hamas militants included women, children, elderly and infants.{{Cite news |date=9 October 2023 |title=Hamas hostages: Stories of the people taken from Israel |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67053011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125203131/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67053011 |archive-date=25 November 2023 |access-date=30 January 2024 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Dan |date=28 November 2023 |title=Baby remains hostage in Gaza as others go free in Israel-Hamas deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/baby-remains-hostage-gaza-others-go-free-israel-hamas-deal-2023-11-28/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208202339/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/baby-remains-hostage-gaza-others-go-free-israel-hamas-deal-2023-11-28/ |archive-date=8 December 2023 |access-date=30 January 2024 |work=reuters}}{{cite web |last1=Nesi |first1=Chris |date=13 October 2023 |title=Hamas seen holding kidnapped Israeli children, babies in footage |url=https://nypost.com/2023/10/13/hamas-seen-holding-kidnapped-israeli-children-babies-in-footage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130082949/https://nypost.com/2023/10/13/hamas-seen-holding-kidnapped-israeli-children-babies-in-footage/ |archive-date=30 January 2024 |access-date=30 January 2024 |language=en-US}}

On August 31, 2024, the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, from a tunnel in Rafah. Autopsies revealed that they had been killed from close range just 1–2 days earlier. Subsequently, it was reported that Hamas militants holding Israeli hostages in Gaza were given new orders to execute them if Israeli forces approached.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Christian |date=2024-09-03 |title=Hamas’ brutal new tactics signal new phase in war and hostage crisis |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/03/middleeast/hamas-israel-hostage-deal-raise-stakes-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=CNN |language=en}} Following the recovery and burial of the hostages, Hamas released a propaganda video showing one of the slain captives before her death, seemingly intended to inflict psychological distress on the families of the hostages. Additionally, Hamas issued a warning that it would execute any remaining hostages if Israel attempted a rescue operation.{{Cite web |last=Hjelmgaard |first=Kim |title='Last message': As Israel buried six killed hostages, Hamas releases propaganda video |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/09/03/hamas-propaganda-video-israel-hostages-killed/75053163007/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Sexual and gender-based violence in the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel}}

{{Excerpt|Sexual and gender-based violence in the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel|only= paragraphs}}

• Children in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
• Human rights in the State of Palestine
• Capital punishment in the Gaza Strip
• Criticism of Hamas
• Israeli war crimes

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite news |last1=Gettleman |first1=Jeffrey |author-link1=Jeffrey Gettleman |last2=Schwartz |first2=Anat |author-link2=Anat Schwartz |last3=Sella |first3=Adam |last4=Shaar-Yashuv |first4=Avishag |date=December 28, 2023 |title='Screams Without Words': How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html |access-date=March 5, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306020559/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html |archive-date=March 6, 2024}}
• {{cite news |last1=Gettleman |first1=Jeffrey |author1-link=Jeffrey Gettleman |last2=Sella |first2=Adam |last3=Schwartz |first3=Anat |author3-link=Anat Schwartz |date=4 December 2023 |title=What We Know About Sexual Violence During the Oct. 7 Attacks on Israel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-israel-hamas-sexual-violence.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204200541/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-israel-hamas-sexual-violence.html |archive-date=4 December 2023 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}
• {{cite news |last=Rubin |first=Shira |date=25 November 2023 |title=Israel investigates an elusive, horrific enemy: Rape as a weapon of war |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/25/israel-hamas-rape-sexual-violence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128081253/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/25/israel-hamas-rape-sexual-violence/ |archive-date=28 November 2023 |access-date=29 November 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
• {{cite web |last1=Philp |first1=Catherine |last2=Weiniger |first2=Gabrielle |date=7 June 2024 |title=Israel says Hamas weaponised rape. Does the evidence add up? |url=https://www.thetimes.com/magazines/the-times-magazine/article/israel-hamas-rape-investigation-evidence-october-7-6kzphszsj |work=The Times }}
• {{cite news |last=Sokol |first=Sam |date=23 January 2024 |title='Right now someone is being raped in a tunnel': Knesset hears of Hamas sex crimes |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/right-now-someone-is-being-raped-in-a-tunnel-knesset-hears-of-hamas-sex-crimes/#:~:text=Israeli%20women%20held%20hostage%20in,still%20violating%20victims%20in%20captivity |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214045541/https://www.timesofisrael.com/right-now-someone-is-being-raped-in-a-tunnel-knesset-hears-of-hamas-sex-crimes/ |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=The Times of Israel |ref=none}}
• {{Cite news |last=Kottasová |first=Ivana |date=6 December 2023 |title=What we know about rape and sexual violence inflicted by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/06/middleeast/rape-sexual-violence-hamas-israel-what-we-know-intl/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130011953/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/06/middleeast/rape-sexual-violence-hamas-israel-what-we-know-intl/index.html |archive-date=30 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=CNN International |language=en |quote=Since then, dozens of hostages have been released from Gaza as part of a truce between Israel and Hamas and some have also mentioned sexual abuse during their testimonies. |ref=none}}
• {{cite news |last1=Kingsley |first1=Patrick |author1-link=Patrick Kingsley (journalist) |last2=Bergman |first2=Ronen |author2-link=Ronen Bergman |last3=Boxerman |first3=Aaron |last4=Kershner |first4=Isabel |author-link4=Isabel Kershner |date=26 March 2024 |title=Israeli Hostage Says She Was Sexually Assaulted and Tortured in Gaza |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/world/middleeast/hamas-hostage-sexual-assault.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326195932/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/world/middleeast/hamas-hostage-sexual-assault.html |archive-date=26 March 2024 |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=The New York Times}}

{{refend}}

• {{cite web | title= The applicability of IHL to terrorism and counterterrorism {{!}} International Committee of the Red Cross | url= https://www.icrc.org/en/document/applicability-ihl-terrorism-and-counterterrorism | website= www.icrc.org | publisher= International Committee of the Red Cross | access-date= 12 August 2024 | language=en | date= 19 November 2015}} (on the applicability of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to alleged terrorists)

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