WASHINGTON: Lawyers for US victims of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel are suing various groups that have been designated by the federal government as terrorist organizations, alleging they participated, aided or provided material support for the assault.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Washington, also names Iran, Syria and North Korea, which are already facing legal action in the US for the Oct. 7 assault, which led to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“Our son’s life was senselessly cut short,” David and Hazel Brief said in a statement released by the Anti-Defamation League. “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.”
There are more than 140 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which seeks at least $7 billion. They’re US citizens who died or were wounded or their American family members, the ADL and law firm Crowell & Moring said.
Iran, Syria and North Korea have not formally responded to a similar lawsuit filed by others in 2024. The US has deemed them to be state sponsors of terrorism, and Washington has designated Hamas as what’s known as a specially designated global terrorist group. The lawsuit also names the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and other groups.
