US charges Hamas leader and militants for October 7 massacre in Israel - AP

The US Department of Justice has charged Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other militants in connection with the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This marks the first attempt by US law enforcement to formally identify the organizers of these attacks.

The criminal case, filed in a New York federal court, includes charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to murder US citizens, and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction resulting in death.

The case also implicates Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah, suspected of providing financial support and weapons, including rockets used in the attack.

The impact of this case may be largely symbolic, given that Sinwar is believed to be hiding in tunnels and three of the six defendants listed in the complaint are already deceased, according to the Justice Department.

Initially, the lawsuit was filed under seal in February to give the US time to attempt to apprehend then-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. However, the document was declassified on Tuesday, a few weeks after Haniyeh's death and amid other regional developments.

"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," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a video statement.

The criminal charges were announced as the White House revealed it is working with Egyptian and Qatari counterparts to develop a new ceasefire proposal and a hostage release agreement to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas and end nearly 11 months of conflict in Gaza.

An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that there is no reason to believe the charges will affect the negotiations.

Additionally, AP noted a statement from White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, who said recent executions of six hostages, including an American, Hersch Goldberg-Polln, by Hamas underscore the sense of urgency in the negotiations.

Biden's reaction and protests in Israel

Following the execution of six hostages by Hamas militants, US President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of holding the leaders of the terrorist organization accountable.

Meanwhile, since the fall of 2024, protests have erupted in Israel. The immediate trigger for these demonstrations was the killing of the aforementioned six hostages. Protesters have accused the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of allegedly delaying the negotiation of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas and the release of hostages.