The victims of Palestinian terrorist attacks notched a victory recently at the Supreme Court.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor denied an appeal from the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority to halt a $656 million judgment.
The ruling means the victims and their families are now one step closer to being paid damages, following years of legal battles over terrorism attacks.
“The lawsuit was filed by victims of attacks in Jerusalem in the early 2000s that killed 33 people and wounded hundreds more,” the Associated Press reported. “Families brought their lawsuit under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a law aimed at opening U.S. courts to victims of international terror attacks.”
https://x.com/yudapearl/status/2084784221621821834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Victims of terrorism have faced a lengthy legal battle, according to The Daily Signal:
The first judgment in favor of the victims was awarded in 2015, but it was reversed on appeal when the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that U.S. courts lacked jurisdiction. The Supreme Court initially rejected the plaintiffs’ appeal in 2018.
The plaintiffs then sued under the revised Anti-Terrorism Act, a 1992 law updated in 2019 to allow the victims of the Palestinian attacks to seek damages in federal courts.
The Supreme Court upheld the 2019 revisions in a 2025 ruling, affirming the victims’ right to sue and allowing the case to proceed. The 2nd Circuit Court reinstated the $656 million judgment on March 30, which reversed a ruling from a decade ago, according to The Associated Press.
Palestinian authorities argued paying would create a hardship, according to Newsweek.
They argue “the suspension of tax revenues collected by Israel on the authority’s behalf, coupled with worsening fiscal deficits and economic disruption, have deepened a financial crisis that is straining the PA’s ability to fund government services in the West Bank.”
However, Algemeiner points out that the Palestinian Authority operates a “pay-to-slay” program.
“Under this policy, official payments are made to Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, the families of ‘martyrs’ killed in attacks on Israelis, and Palestinians injured in terrorist attacks,” the news site explains.
Victims and their families will now fight to ensure the judgment is collected.
[Featured image via Supreme Court]
Matt Lamb currently works as an associate editor for The College Fix. He also contributes to a variety of websites, including Human Life Review and AMAC Newsline. His work has been published by The Federalist, Townhall, and The Daily Caller. He has worked for Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA.
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