This Joint Task Force between the Department of Justice and the FBI will examine those responsible for the attack in Israel and prosecute possible civil rights violations and acts of antisemitism in the country.
El Justice Department de United States announced on Monday the creation of the Joint Task Force 7-10 (JTF 7-XNUMX), a working group that will investigate Hamas for his attack on October 7, 2023 against Israel, as well as possible civil rights violations and acts of anti-Semitism in the country.
According to the Department of Justice, JTF 10-7 agents and prosecutors will be tasked with identifying and prosecuting Hamas members responsible for the attack in southern Israel, in which Around 1.200 people died, majority civilians, and 251 hostages were taken by the militant group. "The barbaric Hamas terrorists will not win, and there will be consequences.", said the attorney general Pam Bondi in the statement announcing the measure.
The offensive has devastated large areas of the enclave and displaced a large part of its population.
Previous charges against Hamas leaders
The Justice Department of the administration Joe Biden had already filed charges against him in September 2023 Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader, and other senior Hamas officials for their involvement in the attack. However, the impact of the case has been largely symbolic, as Sinwar was eliminated weeks later by Israeli forces, and several other defendants are believed to have died. JTF 10-7 will resume these proceedings, according to the Justice Department.
The announcement of the working group coincided with the “last warning” Of the president Donald Trump to Hamas so that Release the hostages still held in Gaza. The Trump administration has also harshly criticized American universities for, it said, failing to take sufficient action against antisemitism on their campuses, as well as against foreigners who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
University research and support for Hamas
The Justice Department reported this month that it is investigating the Columbia University for supposedly hiding illegal aliens on its campus. In this context, federal immigration agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student and Palestinian activist at the university.
El Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Said that revoked Khalil's permit to remain in the country due to his participation in pro-Palestinian protests in Columbia, arguing that They fueled “anti-Jewish” sentiment and were supporting Hamas. Khalil's lawyers have challenged his detention in court.
The Justice Department said the new task force will investigate not only those directly responsible for the October 7 attack, but also possible acts of terrorism and civil rights violations within the U.S. by persons providing financing or support to Hamas.
Although he did not specify what type of support would be illegal, the Federal law prohibits providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations designated, such as Hamas.
As part of the initiative, the FBI will integrate agents into the Israel's National Office for Combating Terrorist Financing, strengthening cooperation between both countries in the fight against terrorism.
(With information from AP)
Source: INFOBAE