Dozens of American families, many of whom also hold Israeli citizenship, recently filed a $500 million lawsuit in the US Federal District Court in Washington against Syria, accusing it of financing, arming, and providing material support to Hamas for the October 7 massacre, according to a recent press release.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for the physical and emotional damages they and their families suffered during the terrorist attacks, which took place at the Supernova music festival and communities near the Gaza Strip.
According to the lawsuit, Syria’s involvement went beyond financial aid, providing Hamas with military equipment and logistical support while allowing Syrian territory to be used for preparations leading up to the October 7 massacre.
The lawsuit leverages US laws that allow for legal action against countries designated by the US government as state sponsors of terrorism, the press release said. Syria has long been on this list, which removes its immunity from legal proceedings in US courts.
The plaintiffs are represented by Dr. Gideon Fisher & Co., an Israeli law firm that has been gathering testimony and evidence from victims of the October 7 massacre for several months.
Hamas terror operatives in Gaza tunnel (credit: REUTERS)
The law firm is working alongside US-based legal experts, including attorneys Dan Kalisher and Asher Perlin, who specialize in terrorism-related cases, the press release said.
The lawsuit against Syria is part of a broader legal strategy that includes multiple lawsuits filed against state sponsors of terrorism, including a major lawsuit already filed against Iran, it said.
Aiding and abetting
The case centers on the claim that Syria’s support for Hamas directly facilitated the massacre and other acts of terrorism. Syria’s assistance allowed Hamas to carry out extrajudicial killings, hostage-taking, and torture, all of which occurred during the attacks, the press release said.
The plaintiffs say Syria’s government could not have provided this level of support without explicit approval from senior officials, and they seek to hold the Syrian state accountable for its role in enabling Hamas’s terrorist actions.
Among the plaintiffs are survivors of the attacks, including Mordechai Artzi, 27, who narrowly escaped the massacre at the Supernova music festival and recounted his experience of fleeing the scene under gunfire and the traumatic aftermath.
“The memories haunt me, and I’m undergoing treatment,” Artzi said. “I joined the lawsuit to ensure this never happens again and to support others who have experienced similar traumas.”
Palestinians break into the Israeli side of Israel-Gaza border fence after Hamas terrorists infiltrated areas of southern Israel, October 7, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa)
Legal experts involved in the case stressed the importance of civil lawsuits as a tool in the fight against terrorism.
“Syria, as part of the Axis of Evil, is another link in the chain of fire Iran has created around Israel,” said IDF Lt.-Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch, a former head of the IDF Military Prosecution in the West Bank.
Holding Syria accountable through legal action is a critical part of combating terrorism and preventing future attacks, he said.
