HRW: Israeli strike killing 106 civilians an 'apparent war crime'

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that Israel unlawfully attacked a residential building in Gaza on 31 October, 2023, without any apparent military target, killing 106 civilians including 54 children.

The organisation called the incident an "apparent war crime" calling it "unlawfully indiscriminate under the laws of war".

"This strike inflicted massive civilian casualties without an apparent military target – one of scores of attacks causing overwhelming carnage, and highlighting the urgency of the ICC probe," said Gerry Simpson, associate crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch.

The destroyed Engineers' Building, south of the Nuseirat refugee camp, was housing roughly 350 people, at least 150 of whom were seeking shelter after fleeing their homes in other regions of Gaza.

HRW said that "without warning, at about 2:30pm, four aerial munitions struck the building within about 10 seconds. The building was completely demolished."

"One hundred and three of the dead were from 14 families that were staying in the building. The other three, from two other families, were the boys who lived about 60 meters away and had been playing football in the street."