Families of Americans affected by the Hamas-led terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as well as those who lost loved ones in combat in Gaza, have filed a lawsuit against Iran. According to The New York Times, the lawsuit accuses Iran of supporting the massacre through financial and logistical aid.
The legal filing, submitted to the US District Court in Washington, alleges that Iran has been a key backer of Hamas and other terror groups committed to Israel’s destruction.
Central to the lawsuit is evidence obtained from Hamas, including documentation of a December 2022 meeting where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly requested $7 million per month from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to execute the October 7 attack, code-named the “big project.”
The case also details Iran’s involvement, via the IRGC, in facilitating coordination between Hamas and other groups such as Hezbollah to plan the assault. The U.S. has officially designated Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine as terrorist organizations.
The families filing the lawsuit represent victims of the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 46 Americans, including children, and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages, 12 of whom are U.S. citizens. The lawsuit also seeks justice for over 30 American-Israeli soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the IDF.
The plaintiffs aim to recover damages under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act. Attorneys Gary M. Osen and Lee Wolosky are spearheading the legal effort.
Earlier this year, in February, another lawsuit was filed in a New York Federal Court by at least 66 Israeli-American victims, or their relatives, seeking $1 billion in compensation from Iran for the atrocities committed on October 7.
Iran has faced similar lawsuits on U.S. soil in the past. In 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Iran must compensate families of victims of attacks linked to the regime. In retaliation, Iran brought a case against the United States in the International Court of Justice.
{Matzav.com}