LAFAYETTE, La. — Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi, a person accused of taking part in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault in Israel, pleaded not responsible on Wednesday in federal court docket in Louisiana.
Al-Muhtadi, 33, appeared earlier than a decide for an arraignment in an orange jail jumpsuit, shackled by the hands and toes. As he entered the courtroom, he stumbled barely over his shackles. He greeted his attorneys and interpreter, who had flown in to Lafayette for the listening to, with a “Good afternoon.”
The decide knowledgeable al-Muhtadi he had been indicted by a grand jury on two counts — conspiracy to supply materials help to a terror group leading to dying and fraud and misuse of visa permits.
Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi masses a gun at his residence in Oklahoma.
United States District Courtroom for the Western District of Louisiana
In court docket paperwork unsealed final week, Al-Muhtadi is accused of being a member of the Nationwide Resistance Brigades, the navy wing of the Democratic Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine, a paramilitary group that has fought alongside Hamas and took part within the 2023 assault.
Prosecutors declare he coordinated a “group of armed fighters” to cross into Israel after listening to about Hamas’ assault. He allegedly informed one man to “bring the rifles” and one other to “get ready.” Prosecutors say he additionally despatched messages asking for ammunition and a bulletproof vest for one more man.
Al-Muhtadi submitted a U.S. visa software in June 2024, the place, in line with court docket paperwork, he denied being a member or consultant of a terror group, having any abilities or coaching, together with firearm utilization, and ever partaking in terrorist actions.
Al-Muhtadi is likely one of the first to face expenses in a U.S. court docket for allegedly serving to Hamas with the assault.
On Wednesday, al-Muhtadi informed the decide he understood the counts earlier than him and pleaded not responsible.
The prosecution reminded the decide that deportation to Israel could be a potential penalty on this case. The max penalty for the primary rely is life in jail, the max penalty for the latter is 10 years. Each counts are linked to his alleged involvement with the Oct. 7, 2023, terror assault in opposition to Israel. He’s additionally accused of mendacity on his visa software kind to achieve entry into the U.S.
For now, his legal professional waived his proper to a detention listening to, and al-Muhtadi signed the waiver in court docket. Thus, the decide mentioned she is issuing an order for detention pending trial.
The prosecution famous to the decide that the case is complicated, involving categorised paperwork litigation, and can subsequently require sure categorised info protections underneath the Patriot Act. They mentioned they plan to suggest a protecting order governing discovery within the case.
After the listening to ended, al-Muhtadi’s legal professional, Aaron Adams, was heard telling his shopper, “so far so good.” The defendant was heard asking Adams extra about jail situations, together with how his household is doing.
Requested about that dialog, Adams mentioned, “no comment.”
