U.S. charges Hamas leaders with terrorism in connection with Oct. 7 attacks

Six leaders of Hamas, including the militant group’s political head Yahya Sinwar, were charged with terrorism and other crimes in connection with the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Other members of the group charged in the indictment include Ismail Haniyeh; Mohammad al-Masri; Marwan Issa; Khaled Meshaal; and Ali Baraka.

They were charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals and other alleged crimes.

In an affidavit included in the complaint, an FBI agent identified the defendants as leaders of the militant group.

Sinwar, who has led Hamas in Gaza since roughly 2017, became the group’s political leader earlier this month after Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.