U.S. Files Criminal Charges Against Hamas Leaders for Role in Deadly October 7 Attack

The United States has formally announced criminal charges against top leaders of Hamas, accusing them of orchestrating the brutal October 7 attack in southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans. The attack triggered a massive Israeli military response in Gaza, leading to the deaths of over 40,800 Palestinians and widespread destruction in the territory.

Among those charged are Yahya Sinwar, the militant group’s chief, along with at least five others. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the severity of the charges, stating, "As outlined in our complaint, those defendants -- armed with weapons, political support, and funding from the Government of Iran, and support from [Hezbollah] -- have led Hamas’s efforts to destroy the State of Israel and murder civilians in support of that aim."

The six men named in the complaint include both living and deceased Hamas leaders. Yahya Sinwar, currently believed to be in hiding in Gaza, is among the living defendants, alongside Khaled Meshaal, who heads the group's diaspora office from Doha, and Ali Baraka, a senior official based in Lebanon. The deceased defendants include former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, reportedly assassinated in Tehran in July, Mohammed Deif, the group’s military wing chief, and Marwan Issa, a deputy military commander—all of whom were killed in Israeli airstrikes earlier this year.

The charges were initially brought in February but were kept under seal in an effort to capture Haniyeh, according to a Justice Department official. Following Haniyeh’s death, the department decided to make the charges public.

This legal action marks a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to hold Hamas accountable for its actions, further deepening the international legal and diplomatic response to the ongoing conflict. The charges also underscore the U.S. stance against Hamas, a group it has long designated as a terrorist organization, and its leaders, who continue to face intense scrutiny from global powers.