American relatives of Oct 7 hostage, murder victims sue Al Jazeera

The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia under the US Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), alleges that Al Jazeera employed Hamas and PIJ terrorists as “journalists,” paid terrorist leaders for interviews, and pushed extremist narratives. According to the complaint, some of the Al Jazeera “journalists” were Hamas and PIJ operatives, some directly involved in the October 7 attack. Under the ATA, US victims of terrorism can seek damages from actors that provide support to terrorist organizations.

The network is also accused of glorifying terrorists, inciting further violence, and financially supporting individuals linked to these groups. Exclusive interviews with Hamas leaders—some of whom orchestrated attacks on Israeli and American civilians—are cited as evidence in the case. According to the plaintiffs, these actions contributed to the planning and execution of the October 7 terrorist attacks, which killed over 1,200 people, resulted in the kidnapping of over 250 and injuring of thousands.

Maurice Shnaider, the uncle of murdered victims Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, is among the plaintiffs. He stated, “The brutal murder of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel by Gaza terrorists is an unspeakable atrocity that has shattered our family forever. The kidnapping and killing of toddlers is beyond comprehension. While no lawsuit can erase our pain, we are determined to seek justice and hold those responsible accountable.”

Darshan-Leitner, president of Shurat Hadin, one of the legal groups assisting with the case, said, “Terrorist organizations require financial support, logistical networks, and media outlets to further their agenda. The evidence shows Al Jazeera has acted as an accomplice to Hamas and PIJ, promoting their ideology and enabling their operations.”