Families of Hamas Victims Demand Nearly One Billion Dollars in Compensation from Tehran

Bloomberg News reported that 67 American citizens and their family members, who were killed, injured, or taken hostage by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel, have filed a lawsuit seeking over one billion dollars in compensation from the Islamic Republic for its support of the group. This lawsuit, filed on Wednesday night, February 1, in federal court in Washington, includes detailed accounts and clear images of the massacre and violence perpetrated by Hamas during the October 7 attack in southern Israel. The 131-page complaint, registered by the law firm 'Kirkland & Ellis', is one of the first lawsuits expected to trigger a wave of further legal actions. Another separate case was filed by Judith Ranen, who was released after two weeks of captivity in Hamas custody, and relatives of Itai Glitzko and Daniel Levi Ludmir, who were killed by militants of this Iran-backed group. In this case, the plaintiffs sued 'Binance', an online cryptocurrency exchange, for allowing Hamas to trade on the exchange alongside Iran and Syria and for allegedly providing financial and military support to the group. The United States, the UK, the European Union, Israel, Canada, Japan, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. The lawsuit outlines the history of the Islamic Republic's support for both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including the annual payment of tens of millions of dollars along with missiles and weapons to them. According to the complaint, prior to the October 7 attack, Tehran's support led to regular meetings between the military forces of the Islamic Republic, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah, in which the Islamic Republic gave a 'green light' for the attack on Israel. The plaintiffs have filed this lawsuit to seek compensation from Iran for the horrific crimes, massacres, dismemberment of victims, burning, hostage-taking, and other forms of torture and physical harm suffered during the October 7 attack. Amir Saeed Iravani, the Islamic Republic's representative at the United Nations, did not immediately respond to an email from Bloomberg requesting comment. The lawyers for these families described their clients' heartbreaking experiences, stating that terrorists attacked their homes and set them on fire, separated them from their families, and killed their relatives at the Re'im music festival. Relatives of Gadi Hagi, an Israeli-American citizen who died in the attack, and his wife, Judy Weinstein Hagi, are among the plaintiffs. Lawsuits against terrorist organizations and their state sponsors may take years, and enforcing court judgments has become nearly impossible. In this regard, it took 14 years for a ruling to be issued against the Iranian government in the case of over a thousand victims of the September 11 terrorist attack, which was largely seen as symbolic since the Iranian regime never responded to the lawsuits in court. However, the families of Hamas victims want to make an effort. Their lawyers wrote: 'The plaintiffs understand that pursuing this lawsuit to its conclusion may be complicated and time-consuming, but they are prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve justice for the crimes that the Islamic Republic of Iran has directed, armed, and funded.' Palestinian militants killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and took over 240 hostage. About 100 hostages were released during a week-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Currently, more than 130 hostages remain in Gaza. Shin Bet: Islamic Republic agents were trying to approach the families of Hamas hostages. The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army: Military pressure is the only way to bring back the hostages. A group of American lawmakers has called for stricter oil sanctions against the Iranian government. The lawsuit of the victims of the Hamas attack on Israel; we hold the Islamic Republic responsible.