The U.K.’s Parliamentary Commission Report on the Hamas-led attack on Israel provides extensive evidence of atrocities committed against civilians. The 318-page report documents the deaths of 1,182 people in a 48-hour period, highlighting extreme brutality, looting, and humiliation. The report details group rapes of women and girls, targeting of children, and sexual violence against corpses. The attack was described as meticulously planned to terrorize through violence.
Lord Andrew Roberts, the chair of the report, met with families of victims during the investigation and expressed empathy for their losses. Despite the graphic nature of the material, the report focused on verified facts to ensure credibility. Roberts highlighted the importance of countering denialism surrounding the events of October 7, as there have been attempts to downplay or question the attacks. The report aims to stand as an irrefutable document that reflects the truth of the atrocities committed by Hamas.
The report includes accounts of mass looting, arson, and mutilation, as well as evidence of sexual violence and acts of barbarism. The attack was characterized as a premeditated bloodlust akin to historical atrocities like the Rape of Nanjing. Despite the horrors, the report also highlights acts of heroism, such as individuals sacrificing themselves to save others. The names of all those killed, along with the circumstances of their deaths, are documented in the report to ensure they are not forgotten.
Lord Roberts emphasized the role democracies should play in countering denialism and properly memorializing the victims of such attacks. He called for acknowledgment of the barbarism of Hamas and its terrorist allies, describing their actions as a complete denial of democracy and a blow against civilization. Roberts expressed his personal view that Britain should do more to help Israel protect itself from future attacks, as the current government’s efforts are lacking. The conclusion of the report aims to expose and reject denials and justifications of the atrocities committed on October 7, 2023, as a perversion of human decency.
