While Hamas took leaps forward in its progress in Gaza in the late 2000s, the group here suffered setbacks.  The HLF and five of its senior officers were convicted of providing support to Hamas.  Hear from one of the trial attorneys who explains how the case was proven to a jury, and how some groups like CAIR were identified as co-conspirators at the trial, and the Court affirmed that designation.  

The Second Intifada brought so much death in Israel with a number of American citizens dying as a result of senseless acts of terror.  You will hear from two retired FBI Special Agents who served years as FBI Legal Attaches in Tel Aviv, witnessing first hand the brutality of Hamas.  You will also gain a glimpse into the evolution of the US-based Hamas infrastructure when one of the original Hamas fronts ostensibly closed only to re-open with another name- an organization that is driving a large part of the hateful anti-Semitic, anti-West rhetoric in our country today.

In 2004, the FBI executed a search warrant on the home of Ismail Elbarasse.  There, agents located the US Muslim Brotherhood's archives.  Hear from an FBI Senior Executive who led the search of ElBarasse's residence.  He provides details about key documents that were discovered.  Learn about other significant developments during this time frame, including the federal indictments of the HLF and 7 of its officers for the provision of material support to Hamas.

In the early 2000s, the US Government continued its efforts to disrupt the US-based Hamas infrastructure.  Infocom and the Elashi brothers were indicted for various terrorism related charges and were tried in federal court.  Hear details about the prosecution and convictions from one of the government's prosecutors.  During the same period, another brutal attack occurred in Tel Aviv.  This time, Hamas targeted a seaside pub full of people enjoying live music, food, and drinks.

On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by Al Qaeda when terrorists hijacked and flew commercial airliners full of innocent civilians into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  This event led to the United States' War on Terror.  Within months, one of the first Hamas front organizations in the United States, the Holy Land Foundation, was designated as an "Specially Designated Terrorist," its doors shuttered and its assets frozen.  However, leaders in the US-based Hamas infrastructure adapted quickly to the development and continued, undeterred in pursuing their mission.

In 2000, with the eruption of the Second Intifada, HAMAS and Palestinian Islamic Jihad's violence became unhinged. Still, there were also developments with the US-based Hamas infrastructure when the family of Hamas victim David Boim filed a civil lawsuit against the HLF and IAP, alleging they were liable for David's death. HLF leader Shukri Abu Baker urged HLF leader Mohamed El-Mezain to destroy material that would be discoverable in that case.  In 2001, the FBI conducted a surprise raid on a company related to the HLF and found thousands of secret documents.

Assassination Attempts, Prisoner Releases, and Expulsions: This Episode reveals that the late 1990s were a busy time for Hamas leadership abroad and also provides insight into how the CAIR Chairman of the Board was secretly a decision-maker for the HLF, Hamas's US-based charitable front.

Hamas terrorists shot and killed an American teenager at a bus stop in 1996 in a brutal, senseless act of murder.  As Israel and the Palestinian Authority struggled to maintain peace amidst the violence, the United States released Mousa Abu Marzook from custody and deported him to Jordan where he joined other Hamas leaders like Khalid Mishal. Hamas escalated its violence by dispatching a triple suicide bombing on a crowded pedestrian mall in Jerusalem where many young US citizens were socializing.

In 1994 and 1995, HAMAS's famous bomb-maker, Yahya Ayyash, known as The Engineer constructed powerful bombs that were used to wreak havoc and kill innocent civilians on buses and crowded streets, but his death in 1996 merely made him a revered martyr who was praised and celebrated.  Hamas continued its violent terror attacks, and an HLF leader proclaimed one of those terror attacks was "God's destiny."