A Gaza man living in Louisiana was arrested Thursday in Lafayette for his alleged involvement in the Hamas-led terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. Mahmoud Amin Ya’Qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, was taken into custody as part of the Justice Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7) investigation.
The arrest marks the first public action by the Justice Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7), established in February 2025 to pursue those responsible for the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Bondi: ‘This Monster Has Been Found’
“After hiding out in the United States, this monster has been found and arrested for participating in the atrocities of October 7 — the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “While nothing can fully heal the scars left by Hamas’s brutal attack, this Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 is dedicated to finding and prosecuting those responsible.”
FBI Affidavit Places Suspect Inside Israel During Massacre
According to a sworn FBI affidavit filed in federal court on October 6, investigators allege Al-Muhtadi personally crossed into Israel through the Malaka region and participated in assaults near Kibbutz Kfar Aza — one of the worst-hit communities during the Hamas-led massacre. Cell-tower records cited in the filing show his phone connected to an Israeli network near Kfar Aza at 10:01 a.m. on October 7, 2023, placing him inside Israel during the attack.
Linked to Militant Wing of Palestinian Group
Court documents identify Al-Muhtadi as an operative for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s military wing, the National Resistance Brigades (NRB), which took part in the Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people, including 49 U.S. citizens.
The FBI affidavit details that Al-Muhtadi, using the alias “Abu Ala,” organized and armed a group of militants in Gaza before the invasion. Investigators say he communicated with Hamas operatives as early as 6:30 a.m. that morning, instructing others to “bring rifles” and prepare to cross the border.
False Visa Application Led to U.S. Entry
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Al-Muhtadi allegedly armed himself and gathered others before crossing into Israel to assist in the attack, according to court documents. His phone reportedly connected to a cell tower near Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the site of a massacre that killed at least four American citizens.
“As set forth in documents filed yesterday, on October 7, when Al-Muhtadi learned of the unfolding barbaric attack on Israel and civilians from multiple nations, including the United States, he sprang into action. He armed himself, recruited others, and entered Israel,” said Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg. “Subsequently, Al-Muhtadi fraudulently obtained a U.S. visa using false information about his paramilitary ties and Hamas connections, hoping to remain undetected.”
The suspect entered the United States on September 12, 2024, after submitting a visa application that included multiple materially false statements about his affiliations, training, and role in the October 7 attacks.
The complaint alleges Al-Muhtadi falsely declared that he had never received weapons training or served in a paramilitary organization — denials prosecutors say were contradicted by photographs showing him in uniform with the NRB, holding automatic rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
Located in Lafayette After Months of Surveillance
Al-Muhtadi’s presence in the U.S. was discovered by Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7), which Attorney General Pamela Bondi created in February 2025 to pursue justice for victims of the attacks and to degrade Hamas operations worldwide.
Local and federal law enforcement — including the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office — coordinated on the arrest with Israeli security agencies providing critical assistance.
The FBI located Al-Muhtadi in Lafayette in June 2025 after months of surveillance, according to the affidavit. Agents observed him working at a local restaurant before arresting him in September. He remains in federal custody pending further proceedings in the Western District of Louisiana.
Justice Department Vows Continued Pursuit of Hamas Operatives
“Let this arrest serve as a reminder that those who perpetrate acts of terrorism cannot evade justice by hiding in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “Our state, local, and federal partners are working tirelessly to bring these people to justice.”
The October 7 attacks also resulted in about 250 people being abducted by Hamas, including eight U.S. citizens. The Justice Department said JTF 10-7 will continue to “degrade and dismantle Hamas, hold its supporters accountable, and achieve justice for victims of terrorist-led antisemitism.”