A Louisiana resident has been formally charged in connection with the October 2023 Hamas terror attack on Israel, which ignited a prolonged conflict between the two sides lasting two years. The suspect, Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Lafayette on charges of conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization and committing visa fraud, as reported by KADN.
If convicted, Al-Muhtadi could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the United States.
Al-Muhtadi has entered a plea of not guilty to the allegations against him, according to KADN.
The indictment accuses Al-Muhtadi of involvement in the Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. The incident also led to Israeli military actions that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Al-Muhtadi pleaded not guilty to the charges, KADN reported.
The indictment links Al-Muhtadi to Hamas’ attack, which killed roughly 1,200 people. Tens of thousands of Palestinians were also killed in Israel’s military retaliation.
Images from an FBI affidavit show Mahmoud Amin Ya-qub Al-Muhtadi posing with rifles and wearing tactical gear. (FBI affidavit)
Authorities claim Al-Muhtadi trained with a Hamas military group before entering the U.S. on a fake visa. He was working at a restaurant until his arrest last week.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Al-Muhtadi should face the legal consequences if he is convicted.
An FBI affidavit includes this image showing Mahmoud Amin Ya-qub Al-Muhtadi holding what appears to be a Glock handgun and magazine. (FBI affidavit / U.S. Department of Justice)
“Clearly, he’s a war criminal there. But I think there’s multiple ways to pursue this, and I think that if he is guilty, he should have the full consequences of his actions,” Cassidy said in a statement to KADN.
Al-Muhtadi will remain in custody without bond until his trial. A trial date has not yet been set.
