In a significant move against international terrorism, the United States Justice Department, under the leadership of Attorney General Merrick Garland, has leveled charges against six high-ranking leaders of Hamas.
The charges include terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, and evasion of sanctions.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the individuals facing these serious charges are Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammad Al-Masri, Marwan Issa, Khaled Meshaal, and Ali Baraka. The Justice Department's press release stated, "The defendants charged in the complaint are all senior leaders of Hamas who have orchestrated, overseen, and supported Hamass decades-long campaign of terrorism, including the October 7 Hamas Massacres."
Haniyeh, who served as the chairman of Hamass Politburo, the political branch of the terrorist organization, from 2017 until his reported death in July, was a key figure in the organization. Sinwar, also known as Abu Ibrahim, is the current leader of Hamas and one of the founders of the al-Qassam Brigades.
Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif and al Khalid al-Deif, held the position of commander in chief of the al-Qassam Brigades from around 2002 until his reported death in July. Issa, also known as Abu Baraa, held the position of deputy commander of the al-Qassam Brigades from around 2007 until his reported death in March.
Meshaal, also known as Abu al-Waleed, served as chairman of Hamas Politburo between approximately 2004 and 2017 and now serves as the head of Hamas diaspora office, "effectively responsible for Hamas official presence outside of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank." Baraka has led Hamas National Relations Abroad since around 2019 and previously served as Hamas representative in Lebanon.
Garland, in a statement, emphasized the Justice Department's commitment to combating terrorism. "The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas' operations. These actions will not be our last. The Justice Department has a long memory. We will pursue the terrorists responsible for murdering Americans and those who illegally provide them with material support for the rest of their lives," he said.
Garland further elaborated, "The Justice Department has charged Yahya Sinwar and other senior leaders of Hamas for financing, directing, and overseeing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the national security of the United States." He highlighted the October 7th massacre, where Hamas terrorists, led by these defendants, murdered nearly 1200 people, including over 40 Americans, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians.
The Attorney General also mentioned the recent murder of six people, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli American, who had been held captive by Hamas for nearly a year. "We are investigating Hershs murder, and each and every one of Hamas brutal murders of Americans, as an act of terrorism," Garland stated, reaffirming the Justice Department's commitment to justice and national security.
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