US charges Hamas leaders over 7 October attack on Israel

The US has charged several Hamas leaders in connection with the Palestinian group's deadly attack on Israel on 7 October last year.

The justice department said it was indicting six Hamas members with crimes including the murder of US citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism and use of weapons of mass destruction.

“The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

Among those accused is Ismael Haniyeh, Hamas political leader who was killed in Iran in July, and Yahya Sinwar, who took over following Haniyeh's death.

Other Hamas leaders charged include Marwan Issa, the deputy leader of thew organisation's armed group; Khaled Mashaal, who leads the group outside Gaza and the West Bank; Mohammed Deif and Ali Baraka.

In a video statement, Mr Garland said the group were responsible for "financing and directing a decades long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the security of the United States".

The group also "led Hamas's efforts to destroy the state of Israel and murder civilians in support of that aim".

He noted the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, in which the group "murdered entire families".

"They murdered the elderly and they murdered young children. They weaponised sexual violence against women."

He added that during the attack the group "murdered over 1,200 people" and "perpetrated the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust".