The FBI has charged a Louisiana resident, Mahmoud Amin Ya'qub Al-Muhtadi, for allegedly participating in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. He is also accused of lying about his past and fraudulently obtaining a visa to live in the United States.
According to an FBI criminal complaint unveiled recently, Al-Muhtadi armed himself and enlisted a group to cross from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel during the attack that resulted in over 1,200 casualties. The incident involved not only deaths but also the kidnapping of more than 250 individuals, including numerous American citizens. Following this, Hamas released the remaining living hostages after reaching a tenuous ceasefire.
Al-Muhtadi is reportedly linked to the Gaza-based military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The complaint prepared by FBI Supervisory Special Agent Alexandria M. Thoman O'Donnell highlights that Al-Muhtadi was involved in planning and executing the attack while denying any involvement in terrorist activities on his U.S. visa application. He became a legal permanent resident in 2024.
The criminal complaint also notes that the arrest warrant for Al-Muhtadi was requested on October 6, though specific details concerning his arrest have not been disclosed. He potentially faces charges for visa fraud and conspiring to provide support for a foreign terrorist organization. Current inmate records indicate that a person bearing his name and age is being held at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center near Lafayette. Al-Muhtadi was scheduled for a federal court appearance on Friday morning.
No legal representation was identified for Al-Muhtadi in federal court filings. The FBI has refrained from commenting further due to a government shutdown.
Investigations into Al-Muhtadi’s social media and email accounts have uncovered a long-standing affiliation with a Hamas-aligned paramilitary group, which involved firearms training over several years. The FBI claims that on the morning of October 7, after the attack commenced, Al-Muhtadi communicated with associates about the operations, stating, "get ready,” and advising them to “bring the rifles.” Furthermore, he noted that “there is kidnapping, and it’s a game, which will be a good one,” and requested ammunition from an associate.
According to the FBI, Al-Muhtadi played a coordinating role in an armed group intended to travel into Israel, with his phone pinging a cell tower near Kfar Aza, an Israeli village where a significant number of residents were killed and about 19 were kidnapped.
In June 2024, Al-Muhtadi submitted a U.S. visa application electronically from Cairo, in which he denied any service in paramilitary organizations or involvement in terrorist activities. The application stated his intention to reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma, working in “car repairs or food services.” He entered the U.S. in September 2024.
After living in Tulsa until May, Al-Muhtadi relocated to Lafayette by early June, where he worked at a local restaurant. The FBI reports indicate that an unidentified agent met with him regularly from July through September this year. During this period, an associate cautioned Al-Muhtadi against contacting anyone affiliated with the paramilitary group due to ongoing surveillance in the U.S. and suggested he refrain from posting on social media in support of Hamas. However, Al-Muhtadi allegedly insisted he could post what he wished, including images of Hamas leaders, asserting his perceived safety.
