The US unveiled allegations of crime on Tuesday against the upper echelon of Hamas for their involvement in the orchestration, endorsement, and execution of the lethal assault that took place in southern Israel on October 7th.
The allegations target Yahya Sinwar, the head of the militant faction, along with a minimum of five others, blaming them for directing the assault which saw 1,200 deaths, inclusive of over 40 US citizens.
As a consequence of this assault, Israel launched their own counteroffensive on Gaza that resulted in the death of more than 40,800 Palestinian residents, and caused extensive destruction across the region.
Our submitted legal claim explains that these accused parties, fortified with arms, political advocacy, and financial support from the Iran government, as well as backing from Hizbullah, have spearheaded Hamas’ endeavours to obliterate Israel and massacre civilians in pursuit of this objective,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland conveyed in a press release.
Six defendants are identified in the lawsuit, half of whom are deceased. The remaining live defendants consist of Sinwar, presumed to be sheltered in Gaza; Khaled Meshaal, stationed in Doha and heading the group’s overseas office, and Ali Baraka, a high-ranking Hamas representative residing in Lebanon.
The deceased defendants incorporate former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, whom Hamas states was assassinated in Tehran in July; Mohammed Deif, head of the military wing, whom Israel alleges was killed in a July airstrike; and Marwan Issa, a secondary military commander claimed by Israel to have been eliminated in a March strike.
Israel has been accused by Iran of being responsible for Haniyeh’s demise. Israeli representatives, however, have yet to assume responsibility.
In February, US attorneys commenced charges against the sextet yet maintained secrecy of the legal claim with the intention of apprehending Haniyeh, as revealed by a Department of Justice representative.
The department arrived at the decision to publicly disclose the charges post Haniyeh’s demise.
– Reuters
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