The Justice Department unveiled criminal charges on Tuesday against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior militants regarding the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel. This marks the first time American law enforcement has formally targeted the masterminds behind the assault.
The seven-count criminal complaint filed in federal court in New York City includes charges such as conspiracy to provide support to a foreign terrorist organization leading to death, conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, and conspiracy to finance terrorism. It also implicates Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah in providing financial support, weapons like rockets, and military resources to Hamas for use in attacks.
Despite Sinwar reportedly hiding in Gaza tunnels and three of the six defendants believed to be deceased, officials suggest further actions will follow to address the militant group. The U.S. designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organization in 1997 due to its history of deadly attacks on Israel, including suicide bombings.
The charges were initially sealed in February to allow time to apprehend then-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and other defendants. They were unsealed after Haniyeh’s death in July and changes in the region reduced the need for secrecy, according to the Justice Department.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that targeting Hamas operations goes beyond the unsealed charges, stating, “These actions will not be our last.”
Amid ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, the White House, in conjunction with Egyptian and Qatari counterparts, is crafting a new proposal to end the almost year-long war in Gaza. The recent killings of six hostages, including one American, have elevated the urgency in these discussions, according to National Security spokesman John Kirby.
The criminal complaint highlights the October 7 assault as the most violent, large-scale attack in Hamas’ history, perpetrated by militants who engaged in extensive violence, including rape, genital mutilation, and close-range machine-gun shootings in southern Israel. Israel’s retaliatory response has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Hamas has accused Israel of prolonging negotiations by introducing new requirements, such as sustained Israeli control over specific corridors along the border of Egypt. Hamas has proposed releasing all hostages in exchange for the cessation of war, full Israeli troop withdrawal, and the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners, aligned with an outline for a deal presented by President Joe Biden in July.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed “total victory” over Hamas and holds it responsible for the negotiation impasse.
