The US Department of Justice has charged six senior Hamas leaders for their roles in the October 7 massacre against Israel.

On October 7, Hamas launched a devastating terrorist attack against Israel, marking one of the deadliest days in the country’s recent history. The assault began with a barrage of rockets targeting civilian areas, followed by a coordinated invasion involving thousands of terrorists who breached the border. Over 1,200 innocent people, including over 40 American citizens, were murdered and 250 were taken hostage into Gaza.

Those charged include Yahya Sinwar, the overall leader of Hamas; Ismail Haniyeh, former chairman of Hamas’s Politburo (deceased); Mohammad Al-Masri, former commander of the al-Qassam Brigades (deceased); Marwan Issa, former deputy commander of the al-Qassam Brigades (deceased); Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas’ diaspora office; and Ali Baraka, Hamas’ head of National Relations Abroad.

“Yahya Sinwar and the other senior leaders of Hamas are charged today with orchestrating this terrorist organization’s decades-long campaign of mass violence and terror, including on October 7^th,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “On that horrible day, Hamas terrorists viciously massacred nearly 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, including over 40 Americans, kidnapped hundreds more, and used sexual violence as a weapon of brutality,”

“Since that horrific day, we have worked to investigate and hold accountable those responsible, and we will not rest until all those who kidnapped or murdered Americans are brought to justice. Our thoughts continue to be with the families of all the victims of this barbaric terrorist attack.”

The charges include the murder of US citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism, and use of weapons of mass destruction. Originally, the indictments against the Hamas leaders were filed in February but were only unsealed now to give time for the US to take the terrorists into custody.”