Amnesty International finds crimes against humanity by Hamas in Oct. 7 attacks

Amnesty International on Thursday released a 173 page report that alleges Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups carried out violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel and in the months that followed. The report, based on interviews, forensic analysis and open source documentation, details alleged acts including deliberate attacks on civilians, hostage taking, murder, torture and extermination.

The organization said its researchers documented incidents with names dates and circumstances and assessed conduct against legal standards for crimes against humanity. The publication represents a major development in independent assessments of the 2023 to 2025 Gaza war, a conflict that has already prompted sustained international debate over proportionality civilian protection and accountability on all sides.

Amnesty said it was presenting detailed allegations against Palestinian armed groups in this release while reiterating longstanding concerns about violations by Israeli forces. By focusing the current report on acts attributed to Hamas and associated groups the organization underscored that accountability conversations will encompass multiple actors in the conflict rather than a single party.

The immediate implications are legal and political. Allegations of crimes against humanity raise the prospect of increased pressure for criminal investigations by national judiciaries and international mechanisms. While Amnesty itself does not bring prosecutions its findings add to the body of evidence that prosecutors and human rights bodies use when deciding whether to open formal inquiries. The report is likely to feature in diplomatic deliberations over arms transfers donor conditionality and humanitarian assistance, as governments reassess the reputational and legal risks of their policies toward parties to the conflict.

Markets are sensitive to shifts in perceived political and legal risk in the region. Major human rights findings tend to raise uncertainty for investors by increasing the likelihood of sanctions litigation and changes in aid flows. Sectors exposed to conflict related demand and supply chains such as defense contractors logistics and regional banking can see elevated risk premiums. Tourism and foreign direct investment in nearby markets typically remain vulnerable to prolonged instability and international censure.

Beyond immediate effects the report underscores two longer term trends. First, the maturation of open source and forensic techniques is accelerating the pace at which complex atrocity allegations can be documented and publicized. Second, sustained documentation increases the political costs of impunity and can alter strategic calculations by non state actors and states alike. For policymakers the Amnesty report will complicate efforts to stabilize the region by hardening positions among constituencies demanding accountability and by framing accountability as an integral component of any durable peace.