US charges Hamas leaders over Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Sep 2024 09:44
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The complaint was initially filed under seal in February to allow time for the US to attempt to apprehend then-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and other defendants.

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Martyr Ismail Haniyeh (L) and Hamas's leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar wave during a rally marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the resistance movement, in Gaza City, on December 14, 2017. (AFP)

The US Justice Department took an unsurprising action on Wednesday by charging prominent Palestinian Resistance figures, notably new Hamas Political Bureau chief, Yahya Sinwar, with a hefty array of charges—conspiracy to support a "foreign terrorist organization that resulted in death, conspiracy to murder US nationals, and conspiracy to finance terrorism."

The DOJ has also added Iran and Hezbollah to the list for allegedly providing Hamas with cash, rockets, and other military supplies.

"Israel" has committed atrocities in Gaza, and the ICC is anticipated to file arrest warrants for its leaders for genocide in the Strip.

The complaint was initially filed under seal in February to allow time for the US to attempt to apprehend then-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and other defendants. However, it was unsealed on Tuesday following Haniyeh's "death" in July and other regional developments that reduced the necessity for confidentiality, according to the Justice Department.

It is worth noting that "Israel" assassinated Haniyeh by an airstrike on his residence in Tehran.

“The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a video statement. “These actions will not be our last.”

The charges also target other Hamas leaders, including Marwan Issa, the deputy head of Hamas' armed wing in Gaza, Khaled Mashaal, a former leader of Hamas and Haniyeh's deputy currently residing in Doha, Mohammad Deif, the military leader of Hamas, and Ali Baraka, who manages Hamas' external relations from Lebanon.

The US ‘beacon’ of democracy dims

As the genocide extends into its 334th day, the situation has escalated to catastrophic proportions. The Israeli war machine has led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with death toll estimates ranging from at least 40,000 according to Gaza's Health Ministry to up to 186,000 as reported by The Lancet. The relentless assault has ravaged entire neighborhoods, leaving behind a landscape of devastation and despair.

Meanwhile, the US has chosen not to hold Israeli occupation forces or their leaders accountable for the severe war crimes that have emerged from the genocide, often obfuscating answers on its stance on "Israel's" crimes. Despite widespread documentation and viral dissemination of these atrocities on social media, the US has opted to remain passive, refraining from any substantial measures or calls for accountability.

The US House of Representatives even voted to advance a bill last June calling for sanctions against the ICC after its top prosecutor Karim Khan said last May that he was seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant, on suspicions of war crimes in Gaza.

A complicit in genocide

The US continues its proud tradition of unwavering support for "Israel", which, according to the Genocide Convention (1948), could be seen as a hearty endorsement of "conspiracy to commit genocide" and "complicity in genocide."

The US has been more than generous, and stands as the largest arms supplier to "Israel", significantly contributing to its development of one of the world’s most advanced military forces. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US was responsible for 69% of "Israel's" major conventional arms imports from 2019 to 2023. Additionally, the US provides "Israel" with $3.8 billion (£2.9 billion) in annual military aid through a decade-long agreement, aimed at ensuring that "Israel" retains what it terms a "qualitative military edge" over its neighboring countries.

A portion of this aid—$500 million each year—is allocated specifically for missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome, Arrow, and David's Sling systems, which have been developed jointly with the US. "Israel" has depended on these systems throughout its genocide in Gaza.

In December, the Biden administration disclosed two urgent arms sales to "Israel", bypassing congressional review by invoking emergency authority. One sale involved 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition valued at $106 million, and the other consisted of $147 million worth of components for manufacturing 155mm artillery shells.

In March, US media reported that the administration had discreetly authorized over 100 additional military sales to "Israel" since the beginning of the Israeli aggression. Most of these transactions were below the dollar threshold, which necessitates formal notification to Congress. The sales reportedly included thousands of precision-guided munitions, small-diameter bombs, bunker busters, and small arms.

By July, officials agreed to authorize the delivery of the 500-pound bombs. Last month, the Biden administration informed Congress of its approval for $20 billion in weapons sales to "Israel". This package includes an $18.8 billion deal for up to 50 F-15IA jets and upgrade kits for 25 existing F-15I aircraft; an unspecified number of 8-ton cargo trucks worth $583 million; 30 medium-range air-to-air missiles for $102 million; and 50,000 120mm mortar rounds for $61 million.