Families of US victims sue Iran over 2023 Hamas-led attack in Israel

Nov 18

Karah Rucker Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Reporter), Alex Delia (Producer), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

Families of American victims of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in Israel have filed a federal lawsuit against Iran and several affiliated terror groups, accusing them of funding and orchestrating the deadly assault. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleges Tehran funneled millions of dollars to Hamas to carry out what plaintiffs call “the deadliest single massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.”

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The legal complaint relies on evidence, including secret documents and reports, that reveal financial and military support provided by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Hamas and other militant groups.

One document outlines a $7 million monthly funding request from Hamas to Iran to prepare for “the big project,” later revealed as the Oct. 7 attack.

The attack, which killed over 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, also resulted in 250 hostages being taken, among them 12 U.S. citizens.

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While the lawsuit targets Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, it notably omits Qatar and Turkey despite reports of their financial contributions to Hamas.

Among the 37 families involved in the lawsuit is Yechiel Leiter, father of fallen Israeli soldier Moshe Leiter, who was killed in Gaza in November 2023. Leiter, who is set to become Israel’s ambassador to the United States, expressed a desire for accountability for those responsible for enabling the attack.

Legal documents also outline a defense pact between Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iran-backed proxies, which reportedly ensured military coordination during the Oct. 7 assault. In response to the attack, Hezbollah launched near-daily strikes in northern Israel, forcing the evacuation of over 60,000 residents.

The families are seeking financial damages under the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Anti-Terrorism Act. Previous lawsuits against Iran have sought billions in damages for its alleged role in supporting Hamas and facilitating attacks against Israeli and American citizens.

Tags: Gaza, Hamas, hezbollah, hostage, Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Lawsuit

[Karah Rucker]

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEVASTATING OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK IN ISRAEL LAST YEAR… FAMILIES OF AMERICAN VICTIMS ARE NOW SEEKING JUSTICE, FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST IRAN AND SEVERAL OF ITS ALLIED TERROR ORGANIZATIONS. THESE LAWSUITS AIM TO REVEAL AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THE NETWORKS THAT FUNDED AND ORCHESTRATED THESE HORRIFIC EVENTS.

THE LAWSUITS, FILED IN U-S FEDERAL COURT, ACCUSE IRAN AND ITS ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS OF FUNDING AND SUPPORTING HAMAS, THE GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK. ON THAT DAY, OVER 12-HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE KILLED, INCLUDING 46 AMERICANS. THOUSANDS MORE WERE INJURED OR TRAUMATIZED, AND 250 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE… 12 OF THEM AMERICAN CITIZENS.

EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN THE LAWSUITS INCLUDES SECRET DOCUMENTS OBTAINED FROM GAZA AND OTHER SOURCES, SHOWING HOW IRAN FUNNELED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HAMAS LEADERS OVER THE YEARS. ONE DOCUMENT FROM 2022 OUTLINES A REQUEST FOR 7 MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH FROM IRAN TO PREPARE FOR WHAT IT CALLED “THE BIG PROJECT,” NOW KNOWN TO BE THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK.

THE FAMILIES BEHIND THE LAWSUITS INCLUDE THOSE OF AMERICANS KILLED IN THE ATTACK, HOSTAGES, AND SOLDIERS WHO DIED DEFENDING ISRAEL. THE SUITS ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE BROADER REGIONAL VIOLENCE TRIGGERED BY THE ATTACK.

FOLLOWING OCTOBER 7TH… HEZBOLLAH ESCALATED ATTACKS IN NORTHERN ISRAEL, DISPLACING OVER 60-THOUSAND RESIDENTS. IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS IN IRAQ AND YEMEN ALSO LAUNCHED STRIKES IN SOLIDARITY WITH HAMAS.

WHILE THE LAWSUITS FOCUS ON IRAN’S ROLE, KEY PLAYERS LIKE QATAR AND TURKEY, WHICH REPORTEDLY ALSO PROVIDED FUNDS TO HAMAS, ARE NOTABLY ABSENT. YEMEN’S HOUTHI REBELS, REMOVED FROM THE U-S TERROR BLACKLIST, ARE ALSO EXCLUDED.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST LEGAL ACTION AGAINST IRAN FOLLOWING OCTOBER 7TH. EARLIER LAWSUITS SOUGHT BILLIONS IN DAMAGES, ACCUSING IRAN OF DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK AND ARMING HAMAS. THESE FAMILIES NOW HOPE THEIR CASE WILL REVEAL THE FULL EXTENT OF TEHRAN’S INVOLVEMENT AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE UNDER U-S ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.