The Myth: The Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, was a legitimate form of resistance against occupation.

The Facts: International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits targeting civilians regardless of political circumstances. The deliberate massacre of 1,200 civilians, including the elderly, children, and Holocaust survivors, along with widespread sexual violence, hostage-taking, and mutilation of bodies can never constitute legitimate resistance under any legal or ethical framework. The attack targeted music festival attendees and civilians in their homes, not military installations. Leading human rights organizations worldwide condemned the attack as a war crime and crime against humanity. Legitimate resistance never includes deliberately targeting civilians or taking hostages.