Man dwelling in Louisiana related to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel, U.S. says

Federal prosecutors accused a person in Louisiana of collaborating in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault on Israel, then touring to the U.S. on a fraudulent visa, in accordance with newly unsealed courtroom paperwork. 

Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi, 33, was allegedly a part of the Nationwide Resistance Brigades, the navy wing of the Democratic Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine, a paramilitary group that has fought alongside Hamas and took part within the 2023 assault, in accordance with the paperwork. 

Al-Muhtadi was charged with offering, making an attempt to supply or conspiring to supply materials help to a international terrorist group and the fraud and misuse of a visa or different paperwork. The costs have been introduced in the US District Court docket for the Western District of Louisiana. 

Al-Muhtadi allegedly coordinated a “group of armed fighters” to cross into Israel after listening to about Hamas’ assault, in accordance with the courtroom paperwork. He instructed one man to “deliver the rifles” and one other to “prepare.” He additionally despatched messages asking for ammunition and a bulletproof vest for one more man. 

Al-Muhtadi’s telephone pinged a cell tower close to Kibbutz Kfar Aza at about 10:01 a.m. on Oct. 7, 2023, the paperwork mentioned, a number of hours after the assault started. Kibbutz Kfar Aza is just some miles from Gaza’s border. Sixty folks have been killed there, and 19 have been kidnapped, the courtroom paperwork mentioned. Greater than 1,200 folks in Israel have been killed and 250 taken hostage throughout the assault. The paperwork don’t accuse al-Muhtadi of any killings or particular crimes.  

Al-Muhtadi allegedly coordinated a “group of armed fighters” to cross into Israel inside hours of listening to about Hamas’ assault, in accordance with the courtroom paperwork. He instructed one man to “deliver the rifles” and one other to “prepare.” He additionally despatched messages asking for ammunition and a bulletproof vest for one more man. 

Al-Muhtadi allegedly submitted a U.S. visa utility in June 2024, the courtroom paperwork mentioned. Within the utility, he mentioned that he was not a member or consultant of a terror group, that he had no specialised abilities or coaching, together with firearm utilization, and had by no means engaged in terrorist actions. 

He met with a U.S. Embassy consular official in August and entered the US via Dallas-Fort Value Worldwide Airport on Sept. 12, 2024, in accordance with the paperwork. He lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a number of months, the paperwork mentioned. Photographs shared by al-Muhtadi on social media present him posing with a gun in his Tulsa condominium. 

In early 2025, Federal Bureau of Investigation brokers positioned al-Muhtadi dwelling in Lafayette, Louisiana, the place he labored in a neighborhood restaurant.

An individual with al-Muhtadi’s identify and delivery date was being held on the St. Martin Parish Correctional Heart close to Lafayette, in accordance with on-line data. He was booked into the ability on Thursday. He made his preliminary courtroom look on Friday, in accordance with courtroom data. On-line data didn’t make it clear if he had a lawyer. 

Federal prosecutors have beforehand charged six senior Hamas leaders with the deaths of no less than 43 Americans on Oct. 7. These charged included former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October 2024.