Since the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7 and the Israeli military's ensuing bombardment of the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch has analyzed evidence to document and report on serious abuses by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups.
Throughout the year, we covered many topics from around the world. From a blockbuster report on Saudi border killings to Iran's feminist uprising to rollbacks and victories for LGBT rights, these were the most-read stories on our site this year.
1. Israel Uses White Phosphorous in Gaza and Lebanon
In October, Human Rights Watch documented Israel’s use of white phosphorus in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. The use of incendiary weapons in populated areas puts civilians at grave risk.
2. Videos of Hamas-Led Attacks Verified
Following the October 7 attacks by Hamas-led gunmen, Human Rights Watch verified four videos showing three incidents of deliberate killings. We have called for the attacks to be investigated as war crimes.
3. Mass Killings of Migrants at the Saudi-Yemen Border
A report in August documented how Saudi border guards have killed at least hundreds of Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers who tried to cross the Yemen-Saudi border between March 2022 and June 2023.
4. Spike of Israeli Killings of Palestinian Children in the West Bank
Another August report looked at Israeli forces' killings of Palestinian children in the West Bank. At the time of the report's release, at least 34 children had been killed in the West Back since the start of 2023.
5. Atrocities by Rwanda-Backed Rebels in the DR Congo
A February report found that the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group was responsible for summary executions and forced recruitment of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Warring parties in the DR Congo have put civilians in remote areas of North Kivu province at a heightened risk.
6. Saudi Arabia Sentences Man to Death Over Tweets
In July, a Saudi court sentenced retired schoolteacher Muhammad al-Ghamdi to death solely over his Twitter and YouTube activity. The verdict marked a stark escalation of the Saudi government’s crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful dissent in the country.
7. Human Rights Crisis: Abortion in the United States After Dobbs
After the United States Supreme Court overturned the constitutionally protected right to access abortion in June 2022, people in the US who can become pregnant have faced an unprecedented rights crisis. Nearly one year later, this article documented the intensifying emergency caused by the decision.
8. Nepal Court Orders Recognition of Same-Sex Spouse
In May, Nepal's Supreme Court instructed the government to recognize the same-sex foreign spouse of a Nepali citizen. It said that failure to recognize same-sex spouses violates Nepal’s constitution and its international human rights obligations.
9. Ukrainian Civilian Deaths from Cluster Munitions
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, forces on both sides have used banned, indiscriminate cluster munitions which have harmed civilians and have the capability to do so for many years to come.
10. Uganda's President Signs Repressive Anti-LGBT Law
In May, Uganda's president signed into law a regressive bill that includes potentially the death penalty for those convicted of “aggravated homosexuality.” The law violates multiple fundamental rights.
11. Unveiling Resistance: The Struggle for Women's Rights in Iran
Sweeping public protests that erupted across Iran in September 2022 have been characterized by many observers as the first feminist uprising in the region. This article looks closely at how the broader struggle of women for equal rights in Iran has evolved over the years.
