On September 3, the US government announced that it has brought criminal charges against key Hamas leaders for their roles in the planning and execution of the deadly attack on October 7 in southern Israel. The attack claimed the lives of 1,200 individuals, with more than 40 of them being American citizens. This violent incident instigated a forceful Israeli military response in Gaza, resulting in over 40,800 Palestinian casualties and significant destruction throughout the region.

Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the diverse range of support the defendants received from Iran and Hezbollah, which facilitated Hamas's initiatives aimed at undermining Israel and harming civilians. The legal complaint identifies six individuals, three of whom have already passed away, while the remaining accused include Yahya Sinwar, who is reportedly in hiding in Gaza; Khaled Meshaal, residing in Doha and leading Hamas's diaspora operations; and Ali Baraka, a senior figure based in Lebanon.

Among the deceased named are former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, reportedly killed in July in Tehran; Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas's military wing, whom Israel claims to have targeted in a deadly airstrike the same month; and Marwan Issa, a deputy military commander, who also allegedly fell victim to an Israeli airstrike in March. The charges against the living leaders were initially sealed back in February, with plans to go public contingent upon capturing Haniyeh, but the Justice Department opted to release them following his confirmed death.