Lawyers representing U.S. victims of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel have initiated a lawsuit against various organizations classified as terrorist entities by the federal government. The plaintiffs contend that these groups played a role in the assault, either through direct participation, support, or material assistance.
The lawsuit was filed on a Thursday in the federal court located in Washington, D.C., and it explicitly names several states including Iran, Syria, and North Korea, which are already facing legal action in the U.S. related to the assault that occurred on October 7, 2023. This attack triggered an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
David and Hazel Brief, parents of a victim, expressed their anguish through a statement released by the Anti-Defamation League. They articulated the deep sense of loss, stating, “Our son’s life was senselessly cut short. We believe it is critical that those responsible for the horrific terror inflicted that day are held accountable in a court of law, to ensure the record is clear as to who helped support, plan and carry out the violence that day.”
The lawsuit includes over 140 plaintiffs, all U.S. citizens who were either killed, injured, or are family members of victims. It demands a minimum of $7 billion in damages, as stated by the ADL and the law firm Crowell & Moring. Notably, Iran, Syria, and North Korea have yet to formally respond to a parallel lawsuit filed in 2024.
The U.S. government has labeled these nations as state sponsors of terrorism, and it has designated Hamas as a specially designated global terrorist organization. Additionally, the lawsuit targets groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah of Lebanon, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and others involved in the attack.
The legal action references findings from a report published by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for the United Nations Human Rights Council, emphasizing the implications these findings may hold for the case.
Under U.S. federal law, there are provisions that allow foreign governments to be held liable for injuries or deaths resulting from acts of terrorism or their support. If the plaintiffs succeed, they may qualify for compensation from a fund established by Congress that provides payouts to American victims of terrorism. This fund is sustained through seized assets, fines, or penalties imposed on organizations that engage in business with designated state sponsors of terrorism.
The violence in Gaza erupted in 2023 when Hamas-led militants launched a significant assault in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, with the majority being civilians, and the abduction of 251 others. Currently, there are still 48 hostages in Gaza, with an estimated 20 believed to be alive, according to Israeli assessments after previous ceasefires released many hostages.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 65,000, although the exact number of civilians versus combatants remains unclear. Reports indicate that women and children represent nearly half of those killed in the ongoing conflict.
In a related note, the Justice Department took legal action last year by filing criminal charges against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior militants, accusing them of conspiring to murder U.S. nationals during the attack on October 7. Notably, Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024.
Hamas maintains that it does not acknowledge Israel's legitimacy and asserts that its military actions are aimed at fighting for Palestinian rights, declaring it is not in conflict with the United States.
