Federal agents have arrested a 33-year-old Palestinian national, Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, in Lafayette, Louisiana, charging him with participating in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel—the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. The arrest marks the first public step by the U.S. Justice Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 to bring to justice those responsible for the atrocities, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, including 49 U.S. citizens, and the abduction of about 250 others, among them eight Americans.
Al-Muhtadi’s arrest, announced Thursday, follows a sweeping investigation involving multiple U.S. and Israeli agencies, including the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, the Department of Homeland Security, the State Attorney’s Office of Israel, and local Louisiana law enforcement. According to the criminal complaint and supporting affidavits, Al-Muhtadi is accused of being an operative for the National Resistance Brigades (NRB), the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), a Gaza-based paramilitary group that joined Hamas in the October 7 assault.
Evidence gathered by investigators paints a detailed and chilling picture of Al-Muhtadi’s alleged actions on that fateful day. Court filings describe how, upon learning of the Hamas invasion early on October 7, Al-Muhtadi armed himself, recruited others, and crossed into Israel. His phone records place him near Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the hardest-hit Israeli communities and the site of a brutal massacre that claimed the lives of many civilians, including at least four Americans. According to i24NEWS, U.S. officials say there is evidence placing Al-Muhtadi “near one of the worst-hit Israeli communities.”
The complaint details intercepted phone calls and social media activity that further implicate Al-Muhtadi. On the morning of the attack, he received a message reading, “I see war,” followed by another stating, “Hell opened its gates. It is very chaotic, and there will be no end, this time. It will end in a good way.” Shortly thereafter, an update arrived: “Hilux trucks inside the settlements,” referring to vehicles used by Hamas attackers. Minutes later, Al-Muhtadi received a video depicting what appeared to be a Hamas paraglider flying towards Israel. The New American reports that Al-Muhtadi exchanged photos of weapons and militants on social media, including images of rocket-propelled grenade launchers and automatic rifles.
In intercepted calls, Al-Muhtadi was heard discussing the movement of fighters and arms into Israel and celebrating the kidnappings that occurred that morning. One particularly telling exchange, as cited by The New American, had Al-Muhtadi telling an associate, “Get ready. The borders are open I swear. They are passing by in the Hilux. Get ready.” In another call, he mentioned having “extra ammunitions and things” and confirmed he was inside Israel’s border. Photographs and videos taken around the time of the attack show Al-Muhtadi in combat gear, carrying weapons, and standing with armed militants, often wearing NRB insignia and Hamas-style headbands.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg emphasized the gravity of the charges: “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 additional marauders, and then entered Israel, where there is evidence placing him near one of the worst-hit Israeli communities.” Eisenberg added, “This arrest is the first public step in bringing to justice those responsible for harming Americans on that day.”
After the attack, prosecutors allege, Al-Muhtadi sought to evade detection by securing entry to the United States through visa fraud. On August 6, 2024, he met with a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, where he took an oath, provided fingerprints and photographs, and stated he intended to settle in Tulsa, Oklahoma, working in car repair or food service. He swore to statements on his visa application denying any specialized training, paramilitary involvement, or terrorist activity—claims that investigators now say were “materially false.” Department of Homeland Security records confirm that Al-Muhtadi entered the United States on September 12, 2024, arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport before eventually settling in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he found employment at a local restaurant.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi did not mince words in her statement: “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.” She continued, “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.”
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana echoed the sentiment, noting, “October 7 is a day that lives in infamy for so many, Gentile and Jew alike, because of the terrorist attack on Israel that began a wave of antisemitic violence. Let this arrest serve as a reminder both that those who perpetrate acts of terrorism cannot evade justice by hiding in our communities and that state, local, and federal law enforcement…are working tirelessly to bring these people to justice.”
Al-Muhtadi faces charges of visa fraud and providing material support to a terrorist organization. According to The New American, he appeared in court on October 17, 2025, “flanked by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and wearing a tan T-shirt, faded green pants and slides.” During the hearing, Magistrate Judge David J. Ayo read the charges to Al-Muhtadi, with an interpreter translating over a virtual call. Al-Muhtadi reportedly asked for clarification several times, indicating he had not yet seen the complaints related to his arrest.
The case against Al-Muhtadi is the result of a sprawling investigation led by Joint Task Force October 7, which was established by the Justice Department in February 2025 to identify and prosecute perpetrators of the October 7 attack. The task force brings together resources from the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Israeli authorities, including the Israeli Security Agency and the Israel Defense Forces.
The October 7 attack itself marked a turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Hamas and allied groups breaching Israeli defenses and carrying out a wave of violence that left the world reeling. According to The Center Square, the attack killed about 1,200 people, including 49 U.S. citizens, and led to the abduction of roughly 250 individuals. In the aftermath, Israel launched a massive military response, with the number of dead now believed to exceed 68,000.
Al-Muhtadi’s arrest is a stark reminder of the global reach of terrorism and the complexities of tracking suspects across borders. As the investigation continues, authorities say they remain committed to holding accountable all those responsible for the horror of October 7, no matter where they attempt to hide.
