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The US Justice Department on Tuesday announced criminal charges against Hamas's top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, over their roles in the October 7 attack in southern Israel that led to the war in Gaza.
The impact of the case may be mostly symbolic given that Mr Sinwar is thought to be hiding in tunnels under Gaza and the Justice Department says three of the six defendants are believed to be dead.
The complaint was originally filed under seal in February to give the US time to try to take into custody the then-Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, but it was unsealed on Tuesday weeks after his death in Tehran and because of other regional developments, the Justice Department said.
The seven-count criminal complaint filed in federal court in New York City includes charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, conspiracy to murder US nationals and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, resulting in death. It also accuses Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah of providing financial support and weapons, including rockets, that were used in the attack.
On October 7, the Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans, and led to the assault on Gaza that has killed more than 40,800 people and left much of the coastal territory uninhabitable.
“As outlined in our complaint, those defendants – armed with weapons, political support, and funding from the government of Iran, and support from (Hezbollah) – have led Hamas’s efforts to destroy the state of Israel and murder civilians in support of that aim,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
The complaint names six defendants, three of whom are dead. The living defendants are Mr Sinwar, who is believed to be in hiding in Gaza; Khaled Meshaal, who is based in Doha and leads the group's diaspora office; and Ali Baraka, a senior Hamas official based in Lebanon.
The deceased defendants are Mr Haniyeh, who Hamas says was assassinated in July in Tehran; military wing chief Mohammed Deif, who Israel says it killed in a July air strike; and Marwan Issa, a deputy military commander Israel said it killed in a March strike.
Iran has blamed Israel for Mr Haniyeh's death but Israeli officials have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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