Over 100 victims of Hamas’s Oct. 7 onslaught sue Iran, Syria, North Korea in US court

Victims of Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught have filed a federal lawsuit in the US against Iran, Syria and North Korea, alleging that the three countries provided material support to Hamas that enabled it to commit the attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

The lawsuit is being organized by the Anti-Defamation League and Crowell & Moring LLP, and the 125 plaintiffs are seeking at least $4 billion in damages under applicable federal and local laws.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, DC, by the Anti-Defamation League is the largest case against foreign countries in connection with the attack, and the first backed by a Jewish organization, the ADL says in a press release.

It accuses the three countries of providing financial, military and tactical support to Hamas. The US government has designated Iran, Syria and North Korea as state sponsors of terrorism.

The plaintiffs in the case include US citizens injured on October 7, as well as relatives and the estates of victims killed in the attack.

“My mom, Adrienne Neta, was born and raised in California. Her father was an Air Force engineer, and the family lived on Navy bases for most of her childhood. In the early ’80s, she made aliyah and married my dad, and together, they built a family in Kibbutz Be’eri,” says plaintiff Nahar Neta in a statement.

“While nothing will ever undo the unbearable pain Hamas caused our family or the brutal losses we’ve suffered, we hope this case will bring some sense of justice. It’s important for us to be able to tell our stories so the world can hear how Hamas has terrorized Israel, the Jewish people, and many American citizens. My mom devoted her life to caring for others regardless of race or religious beliefs. She was a peace and justice seeker who was active in many civilian efforts to bridge the gap between Jews and Arabs in Israel.”

It is common for countries accused of state-sponsored terrorism to ignore lawsuits in the US and not to honor judgments against them in US courts.

If the defendants are found liable, the plaintiffs hope to tap the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which Congress created in 2015 to compensate individuals who have won judgments against state sponsors of terrorism.

But the fund has run low, prompting several members of Congress to introduce legislation in May that would enhance funding and guarantee annual payments to victims.

Monday’s lawsuit seeks at least $1 billion of compensatory damages and $3 billion of punitive damages.

Reuters contributed to this report.