Merrick G. Garland

Announcement of Formal Terrorism Charges Against Yahya Sinwar and Senior Leaders of Hamas

First Published 3 September 2024

[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio]

Today, the Justice Department unsealed charges against Yahya Sinwar and other senior leaders of Hamas for financing and directing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the security of the United States.

As outlined in our complaint, those defendants -- armed with weapons, political support, and funding from the Government of Iran, and support from Hezbollah -- have led Hamas’s efforts to destroy the State of Israel and murder civilians in support of that aim.

In its attacks over the past three decades, Hamas has murdered or injured thousands of civilians, including dozens of American citizens.

In the early morning hours of October 7th of last year, Hamas -- led by these defendants -- committed its most violent, large-scale terrorist attack to date.

During the attack, Hamas terrorists murdered civilians who tried to flee, and those who sought refuge in bomb shelters. They murdered entire families. They murdered the elderly, and they murdered young children. They weaponized sexual violence against women.

On October 7th, Hamas terrorists murdered nearly 1200 people, including over 40 Americans, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians. They perpetrated the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

This weekend, we learned that Hamas murdered six more hostages -- including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli American.

We are investigating Hersh’s murder, and each and every one of the brutal murders of Americans, as acts of terrorism. We will continue to support the whole-of-government effort to bring the Americans still being held hostage home.

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.

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