The United States has indicted several Hamas leaders in connection with the Palestinian group’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7.

The Justice Department announced it was charging six Hamas members with crimes including the murder of American citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction.

“The charges unsealed today are just one part of our efforts to target every aspect of Hamas’s operations,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Among the defendants are Ismael Haniyeh, the Hamas political leader killed in Iran in July, and Yahya Sinwar, who took over after Haniyeh’s death.

Other Hamas leaders indicted include Marwan Issa, the deputy head of the organization’s military wing; Khaled Mashaal, who leads the group outside Gaza and the West Bank; Mohammed Deif and Ali Baraka.

In a video statement, Mr. Garland said the group was responsible for “funding and directing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the security of the United States.”

The group also “led Hamas’ efforts to destroy the State of Israel and murder civilians in support of this goal.”

He referred to the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, in which the group “murdered entire families.”

“They murdered old people and young children. They weaponized sexual violence against women.”

He added that during the attack, the group “murdered more than 1,200 people” and “carried out the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.”

The charges also include conspiracy to detonate a bomb in a public place resulting in death, conspiracy to finance terrorism and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death.

The Justice Department’s complaint notes that all “defendants are either deceased or remain at large.”

The attorney general referred in his remarks to the killing last week of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, in addition to the 40 other American citizens killed in the Oct. 7 attack and the eight taken hostage.

“We are investigating Hersh’s murder, as well as every brutal murder of Americans committed by Hamas, as an act of terrorism,” he said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray added that Hamas is classified in the United States as a foreign terrorist organization “with a long history of violence, and the group’s actions have led to increased terrorist threats to the United States and to American interests around the world.”

U.S. officials have also highlighted Iran’s role in supporting Hamas.

“Hamas’ attacks played an important role in the Iranian government’s regional and global campaign to support terrorism to weaken and ultimately destroy the United States and Israel,” the Justice Department statement said.

If convicted, the group members face a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.