Who are the 6 Hamas leaders charged by the US for the deaths of American citizens in Israel?
Federal prosecutors unsealed criminal charges against six senior Hamas leaders for their roles in the deaths of over 40 American citizens.
The Justice Department is holding six senior Hamas leaders to account for the deaths of over 40 American citizens. Criminal charges of terrorism, murder conspiracy, and sanctions-evasion were unsealed on Tuesday against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior members of the militant group, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Federal prosecutors accuse the defendants of playing “central roles in planning, supporting, and perpetrating the terrorist atrocities that Hamas committed in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023,” according to a DOJ press release. “The October 7 Hamas Massacres” resulted in the murder of nearly 1,200 people and the kidnapping of around 250 civilians, including Americans.
“At least 43 American citizens were among those murdered, and at least ten American citizens were taken hostage or remain unaccounted for,” the complaint states.
Who are the 6 Hamas leaders charged by the US for the deaths of American citizens in Israel?
The six defendants are charged with seven criminal counts including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, both of which resulted in death. As well as conspiracy to murder US nationals and conspiracy to finance terrorism.
However, actually getting the accused in front of a jury will be another matter. Three of the six Hamas leaders are believed to be dead, and the others remain at large in countries without extradition treaties with the US.
Those who are believed to have died include Ismail Haniyeh, who had been the chairman of Hamas’s Politburo, Mohammad Al-Masri, who had been commander in chief of the al-Qassam Brigades and Marwan Issa, who had been deputy commander of the al-Qassam Brigades.
Those that remain at large include Yahya Sinwar, also known as Abu Ibrahim, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Khaled Meshaal, also known as Abu al-Waleed, the head of Hamas’ diaspora office who is based principally in Qatar and Ali Baraka, Hamas’ head of National Relations Abroad, who is based principally in Lebanon.