Jerusalem Court Awards NIS 3.35 Billion in Hamas Assets to Terror Victims

The Jerusalem District Court has awarded huge compensation to victims of Hamas terror.

Over the past month, the Jerusalem District Court issued a series of rulings against the terrorist organization Hamas, in civil lawsuits filed by terror victims and their family members through the law firm Arbus, Kedem, Tzur. The total compensation awarded amounts to NIS 3,351,523,862, and includes compensation for 516 terror victims, including 78 murdered and 438 wounded, who were harmed in the deadly October 7 terror attack and in additional terror attacks carried out by Hamas operatives over the years. The lawsuits were filed against Hamas and against the Palestinian Authority, on the claim that both bear direct and indirect responsibility for the terror acts. While rulings have already been issued regarding Hamas, the legal proceedings against the Palestinian Authority are still ongoing in court. Victims' attorneys now expect to move to enforce the rulings through Hamas assets and funds that were seized and forfeited by the State of Israel, with the aim of transferring them to the terror victims and their families.

The lawsuits stated that Hamas “initiated, planned and carried out the terrible massacre on 7.10.23,” and that the organization is responsible for a series of murderous terror attacks that took the lives of Israeli civilians and soldiers. Attorney Barak Kedem of Arbus Kedem Tzur, who represented the plaintiffs, said: “The rulings issued over the past month are a significant step in the legal fight against terrorism. Alongside the recognition of the suffering of the victims and their families, this is also a clear statement by the Israeli justice system that terrorist organizations and those who support them will be held accountable for their actions. We will now use every legal tool at our disposal to ensure that the funds seized and forfeited from Hamas reach the terror victims and bereaved families, and do not remain only on paper.” Kedem added: “The legal struggle does not end with Hamas. The lawsuits against the Palestinian Authority are still being heard, and we will continue to act until those responsible for financing, encouraging and rewarding terrorism also bear financial responsibility for their actions.”