The seven-count criminal indictment against Hamas members filed by the US Department of Justice in federal court in New York City includes charges such as conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, conspiracy to kill US citizens and conspiracy to finance terrorism.
The US Justice Department also accused Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah of providing financial support, weapons, including missiles, and military equipment for Hamas to use in attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The AP pointed out that the impact of the case is largely symbolic because Hamas leader Sinwar is believed to be hiding in tunnels in Gaza. In addition, three of the six defendants in the case are now believed to be dead.
The indictment was initially filed under seal in February 2024 to give the US time to arrest then-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and other defendants. However, it was made public on September 3 in light of Haniyeh’s assassination in July and other developments in the Middle East that reduced the need for secrecy, the Justice Department said.
The allegations come as the White House, along with its Egyptian and Qatari counterparts, is crafting a new ceasefire and hostage release proposal aimed at reaching a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the nearly 11-month war in Gaza.
In Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and about 250 were taken hostage. About 100 hostages are still being held, with a third of them believed to have died.
Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 Palestinians. The war has caused widespread devastation, forcing most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes and leading to a humanitarian disaster.
Hamas accused Israel of dragging out the talks by making new demands, including giving Israel permanent control of the Philadelphia corridor along the Egyptian border and a second corridor running through Gaza.
Hamas offered to release all hostages in exchange for an end to the fighting, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to achieve "complete victory" over Hamas and blames Hamas for the failure of ceasefire talks in Gaza.
