The October 7 Parliamentary Commission Report in the U.K., a detailed analysis into the Hamas-led attack on Israel, highlights the killings of a Holocaust survivor and a baby 14 hours after birth among the victims. It includes extensive evidence of brutalities against civilians and sexual violence. The 318-page report, led by British historian and peer Lord Andrew Roberts, provides a meticulous examination of the deaths of 1,182 people during a 48-hour period.
The report characterizes the attack as a meticulously planned operation to kill and terrify through extreme brutality, looting, and humiliation. It includes accounts of group rapes, sexual violence against corpses, targeting of children, and infants either shot in their strollers or burned alive. Despite the graphic content, the report strictly relies on verified facts, omitting unverified events to ensure credibility and longevity of the documented truths.
Lord Roberts emphasized the importance of the report in combating denialism surrounding the attacks, comparing it to the patterns seen in the denial of other historical atrocities. He underscores the need for democracies to memorialize victims and recognize the attack as a deliberate rejection of democracy and an act of appalling racism. The report is seen as a crucial document to preserve the memory and circumstances of each victim, ensuring they are not forgotten.
The report also acknowledges acts of heroism amidst the horrors, highlighting stories like that of Netta Epstein, who sacrificed themselves to save their loved ones. Despite the focus on atrocities, the report aims to honor those who lost their lives in the brutal assault on Israel.