WASHINGTON: Lawyers for US victims of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel are suing various groups that have been designated by the federal government as terrorist organizations, alleging they participated, aided or provided material support for the assault.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Washington, also names Iran, Syria and North Korea, which are already facing legal action in the US for the Oct. 7 assault, which led to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“Our son’s life was senselessly cut short,” David and Hazel Brief said in a statement released by the Anti-Defamation League. “We believe it is critical that those responsible for the horrific terror inflicted that day are held accountable in a court of law, to ensure the record is clear as to who helped support, plan and carry out the violence that day.”
There are more than 140 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which seeks at least $7 billion. They’re US citizens who died or were wounded or their American family members, the ADL and law firm Crowell & Moring said.
Iran, Syria and North Korea have not formally responded to a similar lawsuit filed by others in 2024. The US has deemed them to be state sponsors of terrorism, and Washington has designated Hamas as what’s known as a specially designated global terrorist group. The lawsuit also names the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and other groups.
The lawsuit cites the findings of a report published by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry.
Under federal law, foreign governments can be held liable, in some circumstances, for deaths or injuries caused by acts of terrorism or by providing material support or resources for them.
The plaintiffs, if successful, might qualify for payments from a fund created by Congress that allows American victims of terrorism to receive payouts. The money comes from seized assets, fines or other penalties leveled against those that do business with a state sponsor of terrorism.
The war in Gaza began in 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals.
The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 65,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government. It does not say how many were civilians or combatants but says women and children make up nearly half the dead.
The Justice Department last year filed criminal charges against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior militants, saying they conspired to murder US nationals in the Oct. 7 attack. Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024.
Hamas, which does not accept Israel’s existence, says it is waging an armed struggle for Palestinian rights and is not at war with the United States.
Lawsuit targets militant groups as complicit in deaths of US citizens in Hamas attack
https://arab.news/cpdet
Lawsuit targets militant groups as complicit in deaths of US citizens in Hamas attack
- The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Washington, also names Iran, Syria and North Korea, which are already facing legal action in the US for the Oct. 7 assault
- There are more than 140 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which seeks at least $7 billion
Air France-KLM hikes long-haul ticket prices
- “Air France and KLM are increasing their fares on long-haul flights for tickets issued from Mar. 11, 2026,” the group said
- The group said economy class return fares would typically increase by $58
PARIS: Air France-KLM said Thursday it is raising long-haul ticket prices due to soaring jet fuel prices caused by the the Iran war.
“The current geopolitical situation in the Middle East has led to a sudden and significant increase in fuel prices, particularly kerosene. As a result, Air France and KLM are increasing their fares on long-haul flights for tickets issued from Wednesday, March 11, 2026,” the group said in a statement, confirming a report in financial daily Les Echos.
The group said economy class return fares would typically increase by 50 euros ($58) as it followed carriers such as SAS, Cathay Pacific, Air India and Qantas in hiking fares.
Low-cost carrier Transavia, owned by the group, has elected not to increase its fares as yet, but is “monitoring the situation closely and will take action if necessary,” a spokesperson told AFP.
The average global price of aviation fuel reached nearly $168 per barrel on Wednesday, according to the Platts benchmark index, slightly down on Monday but double January 2 levels.
The increase has been sharper than for crude oil prices owing to extra refining and associated costs.
The price of a barrel of Brent crude briefly topped $100 on Thursday, despite an unprecedented release by International Energy Agency members of stocks to avoid a global shortage.
Fuel is a major expense for airlines, either first or second depending on the carrier.
Some airlines will look to limit the effects of the price rise through a ‘hedging’ strategy comprising buying fuel at a fixed price several months in advance.
Air France-KLM said in February it had strengthened its own hedging policy by securing 70 percent of its supplies for the current and next quarters, then 60 percent for the following quarter.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said earlier it was doubling its fuel surcharge for most routes from March 18, with flights between Hong Kong and Europe bringing a fuel surcharge rising from around 62 euro to around 129 euros.
Another local airline, Hong Kong Airlines, announced on Thursday that it had also increased its fuel surcharge for most of its flights.
