'Factual clarity about the horrific war crimes' - UK releases groundbreaking report on Hamas atrocities of Oct 7, 2023

The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, "was the largest single massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust and the deadliest per capita terrorist attack, with just over 1 in every 10,000 Israelis killed and the third overall deadliest terrorist attack in the world to date."

This is the opening summary of the 7 October Parliamentary Commission Report, commissioned by the UK-Israel All Party Parliamentary Group.

The UK is the first nation to release a detailed report about the Hamas invasion and massacre.

British historian Andrew Roberts, together with lawmakers from a Parliamentary interest group, spent a year collecting harrowing evidence for the 315 pages of meticulous detail and testimony, ending with a memorial section to the 1,182 innocent victims.

“The youngest victim of 7 October was just 14 hours old – her mother had been shot whilst driving to the hospital to give birth and a bullet hit the baby girl’s leg whilst in utero,” the report stated, referring to Naama Abu Rashed and her mother Sujud, from the Israeli Bedouin town of Abu Qrenat. 

The oldest victim was a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor, Moshe Ridler, who was killed on Kibbutz Holit, one of the southern Israeli communities close to the border with Gaza. The report also states that over 4,000 people were injured, including gunshot wounds, grenade injuries, and burns.

While edited versions of the Hamas terrorists’ bodycam footage have been shown selectively to journalists, some of whom were unable to watch all of the horrors, this report provided the timeline of events; Hamas’ strategy and planning; the details of the attacks, including the infiltration and massive rocket barrages; the communities, cities, festivals, and military infrastructure targeted; the war crimes committed; and the witness statements.

“Hamas orchestrated and led the attack, with 3,800 of its elite Nukhba forces and members of Izz al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades invading Southern Israel,” the report stated. 

“They were supported by 2,200 individuals from other armed groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and civilians from Gaza. A further 1,000 individuals stayed in Gaza to operate rocket launchers and provide tactical support.”

Roberts, who is a peer in the unelected House of Lords, having been a Member of Parliament and a history professor, explained that he aims to counter denial of the atrocities, after the UK even witnessed, he says, justification of the Hamas attacks by several British politicians.

“As a Gentile, I believe that it is vital to prevent the emergence of another, more modern version of Holocaust denial, namely 7 October denial,” Roberts wrote in the Foreword. “After the Holocaust, non-Jews like me owe the Jewish people nothing less.”

Roberts argued that this work of prevention “can only be done by the kind of facts-based, evidential work” in his report, which he dedicated to the British former hostage, Emily Damari, “daughter of the superbly brave Mandy Damari who our investigation teams have met in Israel and London.”

The report devoted one section to the biographies of the 18 British citizens who were killed on Oct. 7 or in captivity – the largest number in a terrorist attack outside the UK since 9/11 – and includes information about four additional hostages with close British connections: Eli and Yossi Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz, Avinatan Or and Tzachi Idan, three of whom have now been confirmed dead. 

Eli Sharabi, whose British wife and their two daughters were murdered on Oct. 7, was recently released after 491 days. Or remains in Hamas captivity, while his girlfriend, former hostage Noa Argamani, has continued to advocate for his release.

“The British independent Parliamentary report provides crucial factual clarity about the horrific war crimes committed by Hamas against innocent civilians on 7 October 2023,” said Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely, who attended the report’s launch. 

“We live in a world where fake news prevails, and the truth is systematically erased through denial. This comprehensive report is part of the fight against the spread of lies and disinformation,” she added.