Justice Dept. and FBI Launch Task Force to Combat Hamas Following Oct. 7 Attacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — On Monday, the Justice Department unveiled the establishment of a task force To examine Hamas regarding its assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, along with possible infringements of civil liberties and displays of antisemitism committed by individuals who back the extremist organization.

Agents and prosecutors involved with the Joint Task Force October 7, also known as JTF 10-7, will be investigating and seeking to press charges against Hamas militants who were directly implicated in the attack in southern Israel, according to the statement from the department.

"The savage Hamas terrorists will not prevail — and there will be repercussions," stated Attorney General Pam Bondi in an announcement regarding the formation of the task force.

The assault resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, largely consisting of civilians, with Hamas capturing 251 hostages. This sparked an Israeli retaliatory operation that has led to extensive destruction across Gaza, forced much of the populace from their homes, and caused more than 48,000 Palestinian casualties, predominantly women and children, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry without specifying how many were combatants.

Last September, the Justice Department under the Biden administration unveiled charges against Hamas leadership. Yahya Sinwar And other high-ranking militants in relation to the assault on Israel. The repercussions of the case are largely symbolic considering that Sinwar was assassinated by Israeli forces a few weeks afterward. And numerous other defendants are thought to have passed away.

The upcoming task force will assume responsibility for those unresolved charges, according to the department.

The introduction of the task force coincides with President Donald Trump issuing what he termed a “final ultimatum” to Hamas will free all remaining captives held in Gaza. His government has focused on universities for allegedly not combating anti-Semitism effectively and have also zeroed in on foreign individuals. participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations .

The Justice Department revealed this month that it has launched an investigation whether Columbia University hid "illegal immigrants" on its grounds, and federal immigration officials arrested Mahmoud Khalil a Palestinian advocate and a graduate student at Columbia.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that he withdrew Khalil’s authorization to remain in the U.S. due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. He stated these events stirred up "anti-Semitic" feelings and were tantamount to backing Hamas.

Khalil's attorneys have contested his imprisonment in the judiciary.

The statement released on Monday indicated that the newly formed task force, comprising both prosecutors and FBI officials, will also look into possible civil rights breaches as well as acts of terrorism committed by individuals who offer backing or financial assistance to Hamas.

It didn't specify what kind of aid would be considered unlawful; however, under federal law, providing material backing to listed foreign terror groups like Hamas is criminalized.

The Justice Department stated that FBI agents will be integrated into Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing.

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