US Charges Hamas Leaders Including Yahya Sinwar for Deadly Attack in Israel
The United States has charged six senior leaders of Hamas, a Palestinian group designated as a foreign terror organization, for their involvement in a deadly attack in Israel on October 7 last year. The charges include murders and kidnappings of innocent civilians, including American citizens.
Details of the Charges
On September 3, the US Justice Department announced the indictment of these Hamas members with seven charges. Attorney General Merrick B Garland stated in a video that the charges include financing and directing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the security of the United States.
Garland said, “On October 7, Hamas terrorists, led by these defendants, murdered nearly 1200 people, including over 40 Americans, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians. This weekend, we learned that Hamas murdered an additional six people they had kidnapped and held captive for nearly a year, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli American.”
Support from Iran and Hezbollah
The Justice Department also accuses Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah of providing financial support and weapons to Hamas. The defendants are either deceased or remain at large.
Condemnation from US Leaders
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the death of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was laid to rest in Jerusalem after his body was recovered by Israeli defense forces in a tunnel in Gaza.
Other Hamas Leaders Charged
Other Hamas leaders charged include former leader Ismail Haniyeh, Marwan Issa, Khaled Mashaal, Mohammed Deif, and Ali Baraka. These leaders have held various significant positions within Hamas and its armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
Background on Hamas
Hamas, also known as Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya, was founded in 1987 and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States since 1997. Yahya Sinwar, the current leader of Hamas, is one of the founders of the al-Qassam Brigades and is based in the Gaza Strip.
Doubts Revealed
US -: US stands for the United States, which is a country in North America.
Hamas -: Hamas is a group that controls the Gaza Strip and is considered a terrorist organization by many countries, including the US.
Yahya Sinwar -: Yahya Sinwar is one of the leaders of Hamas.
Israel -: Israel is a country in the Middle East.
Justice Department -: The Justice Department is a part of the US government that makes sure laws are followed.
Iran -: Iran is a country in the Middle East.
Hezbollah -: Hezbollah is a group based in Lebanon that is also considered a terrorist organization by many countries.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin -: Hersh Goldberg-Polin was an American-Israeli person who was taken hostage and killed.
Ismail Haniyeh -: Ismail Haniyeh is another leader of Hamas.
Marwan Issa -: Marwan Issa is also a leader of Hamas.
Khaled Mashaal -: Khaled Mashaal is another senior leader of Hamas.
Mohammed Deif -: Mohammed Deif is a top military leader of Hamas.
Ali Baraka -: Ali Baraka is another leader of Hamas.
