US Charges Hamas Leaders Over October 7 Attack on Israel

The United States has charged six senior Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, in connection with the group's deadly attack on Israel on October 7 of last year. The charges, announced by the US Justice Department on September 3, involve seven counts, including murders and kidnappings of numerous civilians, including American citizens. The indictment also accuses Iran and Hezbollah of providing financial support and weapons to Hamas.

According to the Justice Department's complaint, the defendants are either deceased or still at large. The charges include allegations of "financing and directing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger US security," as detailed by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. On October 7, Hamas, led by these individuals, killed nearly 1,200 people, including over 40 Americans, and kidnapped hundreds of others. Recently, it was reported that Hamas had murdered an additional six hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American.

In response, US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the killing of Goldberg-Polin, who was found dead in a Gaza tunnel and later laid to rest in Jerusalem. Other Hamas leaders charged include former leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran; Marwan Issa, deputy leader of Hamas' armed wing; Khaled Mashaal, head of the group's external operations; and Mohammed Deif and Ali Baraka.

Hamas, officially known as Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya, has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US since 1997. Sinwar, the current leader, has been prominent in the Gaza Strip and is a co-founder of the al-Qassam Brigades. Deif, also known as Mohammed Al-Masri, was the commander-in-chief of the al-Qassam...