The request with the charges was submitted to a federal court in New York as early as February, but is only being made public now. The allegations include, among other things, that the accused have contributed material support to deadly terrorist acts and planned to murder American citizens.
The charges released today are only part of our efforts to target all of Hamas' activities, says US Attorney General Merrick Garland in a video statement.
These measures will not be our last.
However, the indictment can be seen as a symbolic act, since three of the six Hamas leaders mentioned are believed to be dead and a fourth, Hamas' heaviest name Yahya Sinwar, is thought to be hiding in tunnels in Gaza.
The US also points out in the indictment that Iran and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon have supported Hamas with money and weapons during the attack on Israel.
