6 Legal Action against Hamas
In 2004, a federal court in the United States found Hamas guilty in a civil lawsuit regarding the 1996 murders of Yaron and Efrat Ungar near Beit Shemesh, Israel. Hamas has been ordered to pay the families of the Ungar's $116 million. On July 5, 2004, the court issued a default judgement against the Palestinian Authority and the PLO regarding the Ungar's claim that the Palestinian Authority and the PLO provide safe haven to Hamas.
On August 20, 2004, three Palestinians, one a naturalized American citizen, were charged with a "lengthy racketeering conspiracy to provide money for terrorist acts in Israel". The indicted include Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook , senior member of Hamas, believed to be currently in Damascus, Syria and considered a fugitive. The two others — Muhammad Hamid Khalil Salah of Chicago and Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar of Alexandria, Va. — were arrested on August 19. The indictment states that Salah received $50,000 which was used over the course of the following three months to help Hamas finance eight terrorist attacks that resulted in the deaths of numerous Israeli civilians [10](Washington Times).
7 List of notable Hamas members
- West Bank
- Mohammad Taha - co founder of Hamas (arrested by Israel, March 2003)
- Qawasameh clan in Hebron - provided local leaders and suicide bombers to Hamas (many members assassinated by Israel, one arrested, 2002-2003)
- Yahya Ayyash - the "Muhandees", a senior bomb-maker (assassinated by Israel, 1996)
- Arab and Muslim countries
- Khaled Mashal - leader of Hamas, based in Damascus, believed to have fled to Iran in September 2004.
- Mousa Abu Marzuk - Hamas senior, Damascus, believed to have fled Syria in September 2004.
- Izz El-Deen Sheikh Khalil - Hamas mid-level, Damascus (assassinated by Israel, 2004)
