Sinwar and 5 Hamas Leaders Charged by US, Following Goldberg-Polin Burial

The US Justice Department announced criminal charges on Tuesday against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and five other top members of the terror group, in connection with the deadly October 7 attacks in Israel. The move, marking the first formal charges by American authorities against the masterminds of the onslaught, comes a day after the burial of former American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

The seven-count criminal complaint, filed in federal court in New York City, includes charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to murder US nationals, and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, resulting in death. The indictment also points to financial and military support from Iran and Hezbollah for Hamas.

While much of the case’s impact may be symbolic, given that Sinwar is believed to be hiding in tunnels beneath Gaza, US officials emphasized that further actions are expected as part of a broader effort to target Hamas. Three of the six charged leaders are believed to have already been killed.

“These defendants... led Hamas’ efforts to destroy the State of Israel and murder civilians in support of that aim,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations.”

Hamas leaders charged alongside Sinwar include Ismail Haniyeh, Marwan Issa, Khaled Mashaal, Muhammad Deif, and Ali Baraka. The charges follow an investigation into the October 7 massacre that killed around 1,200 people, including 40 American citizens, and saw 251 hostages taken.

On Monday, Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli who was executed by Hamas, was laid to rest in Jerusalem. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that Goldberg-Polin was one of six hostages executed as Israeli forces approached, saying the US was treating their murders as acts of terrorism.

“These actions will not be our last,” Garland stated, vowing continued efforts to bring all those responsible to justice.

Sinwar, currently Israel’s most-wanted man, has been hiding in Gaza since October 7. His capture and prosecution remain challenging, but the US charges enable the government to intensify its efforts, including potentially pressuring countries like Qatar to hand over Hamas leaders residing there.

Hamas has also been implicated in using cryptocurrency to fund its activities. The Justice Department revealed that since 2019, the group has received tens of millions of dollars through these channels, much of it from foreign supporters, including individuals in the United States.

Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, emphasized the commitment to holding Hamas accountable, saying, “We will bring justice to this terrorist organization from the top down for the atrocities they have committed.”

Since the October 7 attacks, Israeli security forces have arrested around 5,000 Palestinian terror suspects, including 2,000 Hamas members. The conflict continues to intensify, with Israel focusing on neutralizing Hamas while attempting to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza.

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