US charges Hamas leaders over 7 October attack on Israel

The US has charged Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and several other prominent figures in the Palestinian group in connection with its deadly attack in Israel on 7th October last year.

The Justice Department said it was indicting six Hamas members on charges including the murder of US citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism and use of weapons of mass destruction.

The criminal complaint covers decades of alleged attacks by Hamas, as well as the unprecedented assault on southern Israel nearly a year ago.

It is the first step by US law enforcement to hold accountable the ringleaders of the 7th October attack, though up to three of those named in the indictment are dead, and Sinwar is believed to be hiding in tunnels somewhere under Gaza.

If convicted, those charged face a maximum penalty of life in prison or a death sentence.

The charges were filed in February but were kept under wraps until Tuesday in case the US had the opportunity to arrest any of the accused, an unnamed Justice Department official told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

Source: BBC