Federal authorities have arrested Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, a 33-year-old Gaza native, in Lafayette, Louisiana, marking a pivotal moment in the United States’ efforts to pursue accountability for those involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel. The operation, coordinated by the FBI’s New Orleans field office and the multi-agency Joint Task Force October 7, is the first known U.S. arrest of an alleged participant in the massacre that left over 1,200 dead and more than 250 kidnapped, including dozens of American citizens.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed in the Western District of Louisiana, Al-Muhtadi is accused of leading a group of armed men across the border from Gaza into southern Israel on that fateful morning. Prosecutors allege that he played a direct role in the slaughter at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where 60 people were killed and 19 abducted. Among the victims, the complaint notes, were four Americans who lost their lives and one who was taken hostage. The horror extended to a 38-year-old American woman whose three-year-old daughter was held captive for 50 days before being released as part of a subsequent cease-fire agreement.
The FBI’s investigation, as detailed in court records and corroborated by multiple outlets including Fox News and the New York Post, paints a chilling portrait of Al-Muhtadi’s actions and intentions. On the morning of October 7, 2023, Al-Muhtadi reportedly learned of the Hamas invasion through a series of social media messages. At 6:34 a.m., he received a message stating "I see war," followed by another depicting a Hamas paraglider breaching the border. Within minutes, Al-Muhtadi allegedly armed himself and began rallying his "young men"—a group of fighters he coordinated via intercepted phone calls and messages. By 8:12 a.m., he was on the phone with a recruit, who said, "We are ready man. And if you want me to go east with you, I’m ready." Al-Muhtadi responded, "Get ready … The borders are open I swear."
Further intercepted communications reveal that Al-Muhtadi was not just a passive participant but a driving force. He encouraged his associates to "bring the rifles," ammunition, and magazines, and spoke with glee about the chaos unfolding. In one exchange at 8:42 a.m., he remarked, "There is lots of soldiers [Israel Defense Forces soldiers] that have been kidnapped … it’s a game, which will be a good one." He went on to speculate, "If things go the way they should, Syria will take part, Lebanon will take part … it’s going to be a third world war … it will be a war of attritions. That will be perfect."
By 10:01 a.m., cell tower data placed Al-Muhtadi’s phone near Kibbutz Kfar Aza, confirming his proximity to the massacre site. Photos and videos seized by investigators show him in tactical gear, brandishing weapons, including a Glock handgun, and posing with National Resistance Brigades (NRB) members wearing Hamas-style insignia. The NRB is the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist group that aligned with Hamas for the October 7 incursion.
After participating in the attack, Al-Muhtadi allegedly sought to evade justice by fleeing Gaza. On June 26, 2024, he applied for a U.S. visa from Cairo, Egypt, denying any military training, terrorist affiliations, or involvement in violence. These falsehoods, according to the Justice Department, enabled him to enter the United States and secure legal permanent resident status in 2024. Al-Muhtadi initially migrated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, on September 12, 2024, claiming he intended to work in car repairs or food services. He later relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he worked at a restaurant and lived quietly—at least on the surface.
Despite his attempts to stay under the radar, Al-Muhtadi’s digital footprint eventually betrayed him. In February 2025, he posted pictures on social media flaunting a Glock 26 9mm handgun, further arousing suspicion. The FBI located him in Lafayette in June 2025, and after months of investigation, agents moved in for the arrest on October 16, 2025. He was taken into custody without incident and is currently held at St. Martin Parish Correctional Center, awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Al-Muhtadi faces charges of visa fraud and providing or attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg described Al-Muhtadi as a "monster hiding out in the U.S.," while U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi lauded the work of the Joint Task Force October 7. "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," Bondi stated. She added, "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 for that horrific day, including the murder of dozens of American citizens."
The case has drawn attention from state officials as well. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced on X (formerly Twitter) that "justice will be served" and suggested Al-Muhtadi could be detained in the newly opened immigration detention wing of Louisiana’s maximum security prison. The ongoing investigation, led by FBI Supervisory Special Agent Alexandria M. Thoman O’Donnell, is part of a broader effort to bring to justice those responsible for the killings and kidnappings of U.S. citizens during the attack.
Retired FBI counterterrorism Special Agent Lara Burns told The Post that she anticipates additional arrests by U.S. authorities of anyone who entered the country after participating in the attacks. "I believe it’s only the first [arrest], of probably a few, that we will see like this," said Burns, who investigated Hamas for eight years and now leads terrorism research at George Washington University. She emphasized the complexity of the investigation, noting that authorities had to sift through vast amounts of digital evidence to bring charges against Al-Muhtadi. "It’s sending the message that no matter how long it takes, when the US government identifies perpetrators of the terrorist attack, justice will be served," she said.
On a broader scale, the October 7, 2023, attack remains a defining moment in recent Middle Eastern history. In total, approximately 1,200 people were killed by Hamas and allied militants that day, including 49 Americans. Another 250 individuals were abducted, among them eight Americans. The aftermath has been marked by ongoing efforts to recover hostages and bring closure to grieving families. On October 13, 2025, 20 living hostages were returned to Israel as part of a cease-fire deal brokered by President Trump. The remains of the last two slain hostages located by Hamas were returned on October 16, 2025.
As the legal process unfolds, U.S. authorities have not disclosed whether the investigation extends to Al-Muhtadi’s contacts or associates within the United States. His federal defenders have yet to respond to requests for comment, and no plea has been entered in the case. For now, the arrest stands as a stark reminder that the reach of justice can be long—and that, even years after tragedy, accountability remains a top priority for American law enforcement.
