The United States Department of Justice has been conducting interviews with survivors and families of victims from Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel as part of a comprehensive investigation into the terror group and its financial supporters, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, former hostages and families of US citizens killed abroad have met with prosecutors and FBI agents in recent months. Some individuals have traveled from Israel, providing videos and text messages to help authorities construct a timeline of the attack and identify those responsible for the kidnappings.
While the investigation partly focuses on acts of terrorism, a significant portion is dedicated to uncovering the financial networks that have enabled Hamas. This includes examining potential support from countries such as Iran and Qatar, and whether any financing involved US financial institutions or assets, one source told Bloomberg.
The probe involves prosecutors from US Attorneys' offices in New York and Washington, as well as the Justice Department's Counterterrorism Section. A spokesman for the Justice Department declined to comment when approached by Bloomberg.
US citizens were among the approximately 1,200 people killed and 250 others taken hostage when Hamas members entered Israel and attacked towns, army bases, and a music festival. About 31 Americans were killed on Oct. 7, and up to six remain in captivity, providing prosecutors with grounds to pursue the crimes despite their occurrence overseas.
As the investigation unfolds, the United States has taken a central role in ceasefire and hostage release negotiations, aiming to halt the conflict and prevent its spread across the Middle East.
Qatar, which has previously provided funding to Gaza in coordination with the Israeli government according to its own statements, and hosts Hamas' political bureau, has intensified its mediation efforts since the war's outbreak. The Gulf state helped broker the only truce in the war so far, a week-long pause that resulted in the release of over 100 hostages and ended in November.
Iran has faced repeated US sanctions for supporting groups the US considers terrorist organizations. In February, indictments were filed against senior leaders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran and Syria are also facing new lawsuits filed on behalf of hostage victims and their families, alleging they provided firepower and financial support for the attack.
In cases where individuals facing criminal charges have been difficult to apprehend, prosecutors have combined indictments with civil forfeiture actions, allowing the government to seize assets. In terrorism cases, seized funds can potentially be redirected to a reserve for US victims of state-sponsored terrorism.
In February, federal prosecutors in Washington and New York seized over 500,000 barrels of oil and $108 million when charging leaders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps with terrorism and sanctions evasion. The US alleged that funds from oil trafficking enabled Iran to support Hamas and Hezbollah, which the US has also designated as a terrorist organization. The government revealed that billions of dollars from the oil laundering network had passed through the US financial system.
