Alleged October 7 Terrorist Discovered Living Comfortably in Belgium
The alleged Hamas operative, Mohannad al-Khatib, now resides in Brussels. The revelation comes just weeks after another Oct. 7th terrorist was found living in Louisiana and arrested by FBI
A purported Hamas operative who filmed and celebrated the October 7, 2023 massacre has been discovered living freely in Brussels, Belgium, marking the second alleged October 7 terrorist found residing in a Western country. The revelation, based on a 65-page dossier submitted to Belgian authorities by the Jewish Information and Documentation Center (JID), comes just weeks after federal authorities arrested a Louisiana man for his alleged role in the same assault that killed approximately 1,200 people.
The Brussels Discovery: A “Journalist” Who Filmed the Massacre
Mohannad al-Khatib, a self-described journalist from Gaza, was identified by JID through extensive video evidence, social media posts, and statements documenting his presence during the October 7 attacks. According to the report, al-Khatib was filmed “jubilantly walking along, filming the violence, cheering and glorifying it.”
The dossier reveals al-Khatib was documented alongside terrorists, laughing, pointing at burning houses, and posing with Hamas leaders. Evidence compiled by JID shows him celebrating the violence as it unfolded.
Currently residing in Brussels, al-Khatib posts anti-Israel content on social media and travels freely between European Union countries without monitoring by authorities. According to JID, he claims to live in Paris but actually operates from Brussels. Al Jazeera broadcast his image during a pro-Palestinian march in the Belgian capital in early October.
Traveling Through Europe Without Restrictions
The JID report indicates al-Khatib has been spotted at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Amsterdam, Ghent, and Brussels. “Despite this evidence, Al-Khatib entered Europe without security checks,” JID stated in its report. The organization has called this a “European security risk” and demanded transparency and immediate action from authorities.
The organization filed an official complaint with Belgian police, who have opened an investigation. JID is demanding that authorities verify the identities of all Palestinians who have entered Belgian territory since the beginning of the war, noting that thousands of Gazan citizens have been admitted during this period.
The Louisiana Case: From Massacre to Main Street
The Brussels discovery follows the October 2024 arrest of Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi in Lafayette, Louisiana. Federal prosecutors allege the 33-year-old Gaza native served as an operative for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s military wing—the National Resistance Brigades—and actively participated in the October 7 attacks.
“Bring the Rifles”: Planning the Attack
According to the FBI criminal complaint, al-Muhtadi learned of the Hamas invasion on the morning of October 7 and immediately mobilized. Phone records show he told associates to “get ready and bring the rifles” and that “there is kidnapping, and it’s a game, which will be a good one.” He coordinated an armed group to travel into Israel, requesting that one associate bring ammunition and a bulletproof vest for another fighter.
Cell phone data allegedly placed him near Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the massacre that claimed dozens of civilian lives, including at least four American citizens. The kibbutz was one of the hardest-hit communities on October 7.
Infiltration Into America
Al-Muhtadi’s path to the United States exposes critical failures in visa screening procedures. In June 2024, while living in Cairo, Egypt, he submitted an electronic U.S. visa application. On the application, he explicitly denied any involvement with paramilitary organizations, any connections to Hamas, any participation in terrorist attacks, and any military training.
According to court documents, al-Muhtadi’s social media and email accounts revealed years of affiliation with terror groups, including participation in firearms training. Despite this digital footprint, he was approved for entry and arrived in the United States on September 12, 2024—less than 11 months after the massacre.
He initially settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before relocating to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he worked at a local restaurant. FBI agents met with al-Muhtadi repeatedly between July and September 2024. When an associate warned him against posting pro-Hamas content while under U.S. surveillance, he allegedly responded that he could “post whatever he wanted, including pictures of Hamas leaders, and he would be safe.”
Task Force Hunts for October 7 Perpetrators
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that al-Muhtadi’s arrest demonstrates “those who perpetrate acts of terrorism cannot evade justice by hiding in our communities.” The Justice Department established Joint Task Force October 7 specifically to investigate perpetrators of the attacks that killed 49 U.S. citizens and resulted in the abduction of 8 Americans.
The task force discovered al-Muhtadi’s presence through coordination with seven Israeli security organizations. Al-Muhtadi faces charges for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and visa fraud. During his court appearance, he stated through an interpreter: “Yes, but there are a lot of things mentioned here that are so false, I’m innocent.” Federal prosecutors have indicated they will not seek the death penalty.
How Many More Are Living Freely in the West?
The cases of al-Khatib and al-Muhtadi raise urgent questions about how many other purported October 7 terrorists may have infiltrated Western nations. JID’s report specifically notes that thousands of Gazan citizens have entered Belgium since the war began, but al-Khatib represents the first alleged massacre participant identified among them.
The organization has demanded Belgian authorities release full information about the procedures that allowed such entries and strengthen security oversight to prevent terror operatives from infiltrating Europe. “JID calls this a European security risk and demands transparency and immediate action from authorities,” the organization stated.
Not surprising
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