Photographs of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 12 October 2025. Photograph

Louisiana, USA: The FBI has made a shocking revelation – a man who allegedly took part in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has crossed into the United States and is hiding in Louisiana.

According to the federal complaint, Mahmoud Amin Ya'qub al-Muhtadi crossed the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel and participated in the attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people. Hamas also kidnapped more than 250 people during the attack, including American citizens.

According to FBI special agent Alexandria M. Thoman O'Donnell, al-Muhtadi was linked to the military wing of a Gaza-based militant group – the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP). He falsely claimed in his US visa application that he had nothing to do with terrorist activities and became a permanent resident in 2024.

According to a Justice Department statement, the FBI and Israeli agencies jointly traced his identity during an operation called Joint Task Force October 7. Seven Israeli security organizations, including Lahav 433, also assisted in the investigation.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “This man was hiding in America, but has now been captured. The October 7th attack was the worst massacre for Jews since the Holocaust.”

The FBI complaint states that al-Muhtadi could face charges of visa fraud and supporting a foreign terrorist organization. According to court documents, he is currently detained at St. Martin Parish Correctional Center, Louisiana.

The FBI investigation revealed that his social media and email records contained Hamas-linked posts and evidence of paramilitary training. During a surveillance call, he told his associates, “Get ready, bring the rifles. There will be a kidnapping—it’s a game, and it’ll be a good one.”

According to reports, al-Muhtadi applied for a US visa from Cairo in June 2024 and arrived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in September 2024. A few months later, he moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, and began working at a local restaurant. FBI agents met with him on a regular basis from July to September 2025.

An associate warned him against posting anything in support of Hamas on social media, but he replied, "I can post whatever I want, no one can catch me."

Now the FBI has prepared a strong case against him – including his illegal entry, fake visa documents, and terror links – and will present it in court with proof.

FBI arrested a man in Louisiana who allegedly fought for Hamas in the October 7 Israel attack. The suspect lied on his US visa, worked at a restaurant, and maintained ties to militant groups online. He now faces terrorism-related charges in federal court.