The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed the formation of Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7), a new initiative aimed at ensuring justice for the victims of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel and addressing the persistent threat posed by Hamas and its affiliates.
“Those brutal Hamas terrorists will not prevail—and there will be repercussions,” declared Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “In my role as Attorney General, I have had the profound privilege of meeting with families of U.S. citizens whose loved ones were taken by Hamas during that tragic day. This task force will bolster the Department’s determination to secure justice for these families and their loved ones, while we continue combating antisemitism in all its forms.”
On her first day in office, Attorney General Bondi launched JTF 10-7, underscoring the Justice Department’s focus on honoring the victims of the attack, which claimed the lives of roughly 1,200 individuals, including 47 Americans, and supporting those who were kidnapped—around 250 people, including 8 U.S. citizens.
The task force’s primary focus will be to identify, charge, and prosecute those directly responsible for the October 7 assault—those terrorists who were physically present during the attack, murdering and abducting innocent civilians. Additionally, the task force will manage the ongoing charges against the leadership of Hamas for their involvement in the attack and other acts of terrorism, working to bring these criminals to the United States for prosecution. It will also investigate the support and financing of Hamas and its affiliates, including Iran-related proxies, as well as incidents of antisemitism tied to these groups.
“The U.S. government will always stand with the victims of Hamas’s long history of terror against Israel,” stated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will no longer allow illegal support for Hamas on our campuses or elsewhere in the United States. Antisemitic acts of terrorism—whether committed here or overseas—will be met with swift punishment. This task force is a symbol of our unwavering dedication to those affected by these vicious terrorists.”
“The FBI is dedicated to establishing Joint Task Force October 7, to continue our investigative and victim assistance efforts concerning the horrific terrorism orchestrated by Hamas,” commented FBI Director Kash Patel. “This task force is a cooperative effort involving multiple agencies, and together, we will work to fulfill our critical counterterrorism mission.”
JTF 10-7 will be managed by a senior counterterrorism prosecutor from the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD), a senior FBI Special Agent who will serve as the Task Force Commander, and an FBI Intelligence Analyst as Deputy Task Force Commander. These leaders will report to the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. Additionally, JTF 10-7 will include trial attorneys from NSD, the Civil Rights Division, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Eastern District of Virginia, along with other personnel, supported by the Department’s Office of International Affairs.
The task force will also benefit from the expertise of dedicated FBI agents, analysts, forensic accountants, data scientists, and linguists, most of whom are based in Virginia. These professionals will play a critical role in investigating and prosecuting both domestic and international terrorism cases, including matters related to terrorism financing, while coordinating with the FBI’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell and Victim Services Division.
The FBI will collaborate with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies on JTF 10-7 activities and will also work with international partners via the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Israel. FBI agents will be embedded with Israel’s National Bureau of Counter-Terror Finance, which has already provided invaluable assistance in the ongoing investigations.
These coordinated efforts will further strengthen the Justice Department’s investigation into the perpetrators of these despicable acts, demonstrating the Department’s commitment to dismantling Hamas, holding its supporters accountable, seeking justice for the victims, and confronting terrorist-driven antisemitism.
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