In a recent news report, two Hamas leaders, Ayman Kanjou and Hisham Hijazi, have been indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the United States over their alleged involvement in various terrorist activities, including the horrifying attack on 7th October in Israel. This development underscores the US’s commitment to combating global terrorism, and they are prepared to take action against those who perpetrate such atrocities.
According to the charges leveled against the two Hamas leaders, their terrorist activities span multiple years, right from 1993 till recent times. The allegations suggest that these leaders have directed, managed, supervised, and financed terrorist activities and attacks targeting Israeli citizens, leading to countless casualties and creating an environment of fear and panic in the region.
Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni-Islamist organization, with both political and militant factions, was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the US Department of State in 1997. The organization is deeply involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ayman Kanjou, himself a former resident of Orange County, California, left the United States in 2015. Heading overseas, he reportedly joined the ranks of Hamas and, during his tenure, has allegedly been involved in directing and managing a multitude of terror activities perpetrated by the organization. Evidence suggests his involvement in transnational money laundering schemes to finance these violent acts.
Similarly, Hisham Hijazi, a dual citizen of Lebanon and the United States and a former resident of Texas, stands charged with participating in, and financially supporting, attacks on Israeli citizens. He allegedly provided tactical, technological and financial assistance to Hamas for the orchestration of these attacks, the details of which are under legal seal.
The indictment also sheds light on the increasingly sophisticated methods adopted by these organizations to channel funds surreptitiously to support their activities – suggesting a network spread across several countries, including Turkey and Hong Kong.
The United States, in a concrete move against global terrorism, has demonstrated its readiness to charge individuals involved in such activities, regardless of their nationality or place of residence. The DOJ alleges that these two individuals provided financial and logistical support to Hamas’s military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, thereby enabling and supporting a multitude of terrorist attacks on Israeli soil.
On October 7, Israel was targeted in another series of violent attacks, thought to be perpetrated by Hamas. This is among the atrocities that Kanjou and Hijazi are accused of orchestrating.
The charges against Kanjou and Hijazi attract potentially severe penalties. They both face up to 50 years in prison if they are convicted of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, along with other crimes they are charged with.
This development has significantly highlighted the USA’s firm grip over curbing global terrorism, by identifying and charging those involved, regardless of their areas of operation. The indictments against these Hamas leaders demonstrate how international terrorists are within the reach of U.S. law enforcement, regardless of where they may hide. This incident instills a sense of reassurance in the resolve of global governments to safeguard humanity against acts of terror and violence.
A clear message is sent to terrorist organizations and their leaders by this indictment: the endeavors to destroy peace and harmony will not be tolerated. Every action will be scrutinized, and every individual involved will face due penalties under the law, further asserting accountability to restore global peace.