ADL Files Federal Lawsuit Against Iran Syria North Korea for Supporting Hamas in Terrorist Attack

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has filed a federal lawsuit against Iran, Syria, and North Korea, accusing them of providing material support to Hamas for the October 7 terrorist attack. The lawsuit, filed by ADL and Crowell & Moring LLP, represents over 125 U.S. citizens who were affected by the attack, which killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped approximately 250. The plaintiffs seek at least $1 billion in compensatory damages and $3 billion in punitive damages, attempting to hold these nations accountable under the Terrorism Exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. Despite potential legal victories, the countries in question may ignore the lawsuits. The plaintiffs plan to use the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, if successful, to obtain compensation. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL’s CEO, emphasized the importance of holding these state sponsors accountable for their roles in what he described as the largest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust. Crowell & Moring has a notable history of winning terrorism-related cases.