The US Department of Justice has announced criminal charges against several senior Hamas leaders, accusing them of orchestrating the October 7 attack on Israel, which left nearly 1,200 people dead, including 43 Americans, and resulted in the abduction of hundreds more. Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed the charges on Tuesday, naming high-ranking Hamas figures, including Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in Gaza, and several others.
The indictment is the first US legal action against Hamas leadership in connection to the deadly assault, which Garland described as a terrorist attack. “The defendants, armed with weapons, political support, and funding from Iran and Hezbollah, led Hamas’s efforts to destroy Israel and murder civilians,” Garland stated. He added that the death of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
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The 38-page indictment details how Hamas fighters carried out large-scale massacres and kidnappings on October 7, with some leaders orchestrating attacks over the years. Three of the charged leaders, including Mohammed Deif, have already been killed by Israeli forces. Others, such as Ali Baraka and Khaled Mashal, are believed to be in Beirut and Doha, respectively.
The Justice Department’s complaint also highlights Hamas’s use of cryptocurrency and other financial methods, with support from Iran, to fund terrorist operations. Iran is accused of significantly increasing financial backing to Hamas in recent years, contributing millions for intelligence and military purposes.
President Joe Biden, condemning the death of Goldberg-Polin, stated, “Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes.” Garland vowed that the US will continue efforts to bring Hamas leaders to justice and investigate the deaths of all Americans involved.