The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday unsealed terrorism, murder conspiracy and sanctions evasion charges against six senior Hamas officials.
The indictment came after the bodies of six hostages were discovered, including 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg Pollin. Attorney General Merrick Garland Announced The charges against Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed al-Masri, Marwan Issa, Khaled Meshaal, Ali Baraka and Ismail Haniyeh all relate to their alleged involvement in “orchestrating the terrorist organization's decades-long campaign of massive violence and terror,” including the October 7 attack on Israel. (Related: Israeli forces rescue hostages in Gaza)
“The Department of Justice indicted Yahya Sinwar and other senior Hamas leaders for financing, directing, and overseeing a decades-long campaign that killed American citizens and endangered the national security of the United States. October 7thNumber“The Hamas terrorists, led by these defendants, have killed approximately 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians,” Judge Garland said in a statement.
As the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues, mourners gather at the grave of slain American Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg Pollin during a funeral at Givat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024. His body was recovered along with five other hostages in Gaza. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“This weekend, we learned that Hamas kidnapped and killed six people they had held captive for nearly a year, including 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin,” Garland continued. “We are investigating Hersh's murder, and every other brutal killing of an American by Hamas, as an act of terrorism. The charges revealed today are just part of our efforts to target all aspects of Hamas' operations. These actions will not be our last.”
The department's charges directly relate to the six leaders' roles in “planning, supporting and carrying out terrorist acts” that involved “the murder and kidnapping of countless innocent civilians, including American citizens.”
Israeli forces on Saturday discovered the bodies of two women and four men captured during a Hamas attack on Israel. The six bodies were found during an operation in southern Gaza. Confirmed The perpetrators were identified as Eden Yerushalmi (24), Carmel Gat (40), Almog Sarsi (27), Alexander Lobanov (32), Sergeant Oli Danino (25), and Goldberg Polin.
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