US charges Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and associates on October 7 Israel attack

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the indictment of senior Hamas leaders for their roles in planning, supporting, and executing the deadly October 7 attack in southern Israel.

According to the statement, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged Yahya Sinwar, the new Hamas leader, and at least five other senior leaders of the Iran-backed group with organizing the October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people, including over 40 Americans.

Garland’s statement highlighted that, as detailed in the indictment, the defendants, with military, political, and financial support from Iran and Hezbollah, led Hamas’s efforts to destroy the Israeli state and kill civilians.

The indictment names six defendants, three of whom are now deceased. The living defendants include Yahya Sinwar, believed to be hiding in Gaza; Khaled Meshaal, based in Doha and leading the group’s foreign office; and Ali Baraka, a senior Hamas official stationed in Lebanon.

Garland added that the charges represent only a part of the U.S. effort to target every aspect of Hamas operations, emphasizing that this action will not be the last.

Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who succeeded Ismail Haniyeh, is a prime target for Israel. Despite extensive efforts, both Israel and the U.S. have been unable to capture or kill him.

The indictment also lists former Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh, killed in Tehran; Mohammad Deif, reportedly killed by an Israeli airstrike in July; and Marwan Issa, said to have been killed in March.

Since October 7, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, with thousands more injured. The intense military actions have severely impacted civilian life in the region.

Additionally, the ongoing conflict has displaced millions of Palestinians, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. The extensive destruction has exacerbated the suffering and instability in the affected areas.

The recent indictment underscores the ongoing U.S. effort to target key Hamas figures.

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