Justice Department, FBI launch task force to investigate Oct. 7 attack on Israel

• The group, called Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7), will "seek justice for the victims" and address ongoing threats by Hamas and its affiliates.

Zoom in: The task force will be led by a senior counterterrorism prosecutor, a senior FBI special agent and an FBI intelligence analyst. It will be under the supervision of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General.

• The task force will investigate civil rights violations and antisemitism, including funding and financing Hamas and proxies in Iran.
• "JTF 10-7 will focus on targeting, charging, and securing for prosecution in the United States the direct perpetrators of the October 7 attack," the announcement said.
• FBI agents will also be embedded with Israel's National Bureau of Counter Terror Finance.

Context: Under former President Biden, the Justice Department charged Yahya Sinwar and other Hamas leaders with terrorism and other crimes related to the attack.

• Sinwar was later killed by the Israel Defense Forces.
• The new task force will assume responsibility for pending charges.

What they're saying: "Working with our federal and international partners, this task force is a collaborative initiative between agencies, and together we will work to accomplish our vital counterterrorism mission," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.

• "There will be consequences," Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

The latest: The Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists has sparked free speech concerns, as the Education Department also investigates colleges and universities over allegations of antisemitism.

• Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and legal resident from Syria, was arrested by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents after the Department of Homeland Security alleged he was actively, but not materially, supporting Hamas.

Go deeper: Scoop: State Dept. to use AI to revoke visas of foreign students who appear "pro-Hamas"