FBI charges Louisiana man with taking part in Hamas' October 7 operation

The FBI has charged a Louisiana resident with participating in Hamas' Operation Aqsa Typhoon on October 7, 2023, and then lying on a visa application to gain legal residency in the United States.

According to a newly unsealed criminal complaint, Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi reportedly armed himself and organized a group to cross from the Gaza Strip into southern 'Israel' during the operation.

Muhtadi was reportedly a member of the Gaza-based military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, according to the FBI complaint filed by supervisory special agent Alexandria M. Thoman O’Donnell. The complaint also alleges that Muhtadi lied on his US visa application, denying any involvement in terrorist activities, and became a legal permanent resident in 2024.

The Justice Department said al-Muhtadi’s presence in the US was uncovered by Joint Task Force October 7, launched in March 2025, and investigated in coordination with seven 'Israeli' security agencies, including Lahav 433.

“After hiding out in the United States, this monster has been found and charged with participating in the atrocities of October 7 – the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust,” said US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The complaint details Muhtadi’s alleged role in coordinating an armed group and obtaining weapons and ammunition. Phone records reportedly place him near Kfar Aza, an 'Israeli' village where dozens were killed and 19 captured.

Muhtadi applied for a US visa electronically from Cairo in June 2024, falsely claiming he had no paramilitary or terrorist affiliations and intended to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, working in car repairs or food service. He entered the US in September 2024, lived in Tulsa until May, and then moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he worked at a local restaurant.

FBI records indicate Muhtadi maintained social media accounts linked to Hamas, continued posting content supporting the group, and disregarded warnings to avoid contact with its members while under surveillance.

He was scheduled to appear in federal court in Louisiana on Friday. Muhtadi could face charges including visa fraud and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.