Gaza man in Louisiana arrested by federal task force

By Nolan McKendry
The Center Square

Federal agents have arrested a Gaza man living in Louisiana, saying he lied to obtain a visa in the United States after having taken part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi of Lafayette “has been found and charged with participating in the atrocities of October 7 – the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust,” adding that the Justice Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 “is dedicated to finding and prosecuting those responsible ... including the murder of dozens of American citizens.”

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said court filings describe Al-Muhtadi arming himself, recruiting others and entering Israel after learning of the assault.

Investigators say his phone connected to a cell tower near Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where many civilians – including at least four Americans – were killed.

“This arrest is the first public step in bringing to justice those responsible for harming Americans on that day,”
— Eisenberg

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana called the case a reminder that “those who perpetrate acts of terrorism cannot evade justice by hiding in our communities,” crediting a coalition of federal, state and local agencies — including the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office — for assisting the investigation.

Visa Fraud Allegations

According to a criminal complaint, prosecutors say Al-Muhtadi is an operative for the National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a Gaza-based paramilitary group that participated in the attack.

They allege he later secured entry to the U.S. by concealing ties to armed groups, weapons training, and involvement in the assault on his visa application.

Department of Homeland Security records show he entered the country Sept. 12, 2024, and has been working and residing in Lafayette.

An affidavit states Al-Muhtadi met with a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Aug. 6, 2024, took an oath, provided fingerprints and photographs, and indicated plans to settle in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to work in car repair or food service.
Investigators say they later obtained fingerprint records noted by the officer.

Investigation Involves U.S. and Israeli Authorities

The case is being led by Joint Task Force October 7 and the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office with assistance from Israeli authorities, including:

• State Attorney’s Office of Israel
• Israeli Security Agency
• Lahav 433
• Israel National Police
• Israel Defense Forces
• Israeli National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing
• FBI legal attaché in Israel

Additional support came from:

• Louisiana State Police
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Lafayette Police
• Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office

Background on Task Force

The task force was established in February 2025 by Bondi to investigate perpetrators of the Oct. 7 attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed by Hamas, including 49 U.S. citizens, and roughly 250 were abducted, including eight Americans.

Israel retaliated and the number of dead is now believed to exceed 68,000.