❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has accused a Louisiana resident of participating in the Hamas-led terror raid on Israel on October 7, 2023, and lying on his U.S. visa application.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, the FBI, and Hamas jihadists.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The terror raid took place on October 7, 2023, in Israel. Al-Muhtadi later relocated to the U.S., living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Lafayette, Louisiana.
💬KEY QUOTE: “There is kidnapping, and it’s a game, which will be a good one,” Al-Muhtadi said, according to FBI-reviewed phone calls.
🎯IMPACT: Al-Muhtadi faces charges of visa fraud and conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization.
Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, a Louisiana resident and legal U.S. permanent resident, has been accused by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of participating in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror raid on Israel that left over 1,200 people dead and more than 250 kidnapped, including American citizens.
According to a federal complaint, Al-Muhtadi was allegedly part of a group that crossed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip during the attack. He is described as an operative for the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a faction aligned with Hamas. The FBI claims Al-Muhtadi entered the United States in 2024 after falsely denying any ties to terrorist organizations on his visa application. He initially settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before moving to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he currently resides.
The FBI alleges Al-Muhtadi played an active role in coordinating the attack. In recorded phone calls reviewed by investigators, he reportedly encouraged associates to “get ready” and “bring the rifles” on the morning of the assault. He also allegedly said, “There is kidnapping, and it’s a game, which will be a good one.” His phone was reportedly traced to a cell tower near Kfar Aza, a village in southern Israel where dozens were killed and others abducted during the October 7 attack.
Investigators say Al-Muhtadi maintained longstanding ties to a Hamas-affiliated paramilitary group, evident in his social media and email accounts. Despite warnings to avoid posting about Hamas online, he allegedly stated that he could post “whatever he wanted,” including images of Hamas leaders, without fear of “repercussions.”
Al-Muhtadi has been charged with visa fraud and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He is currently being held at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center in Louisiana as the investigation continues.
The arrest comes amid rising global concerns over Hamas activity beyond the Middle East. On October 1, German authorities arrested three suspected Hamas operatives in Berlin who were allegedly preparing attacks against Jewish targets. Weapons and ammunition were recovered during the arrests, including an AK-47 and several pistols.
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