American families who lost loved ones in terrorist attacks finally move closer to justice as an appeals court reinstates a $656 million judgment against the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority, ending years of legal battles.
Supreme Court Victory Paves Way for Justice
The reinstated judgment follows a June 2025 Supreme Court decision that upheld congressional legislation allowing victims’ families to pursue their legal claims. The 2019 law specifically enabled lawsuits against the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority to move forward in American courts. A jury previously found both organizations liable for attacks that killed 33 Americans and wounded hundreds more during the early 2000s, plus a 2018 stabbing death of a United States-born individual outside a West Bank mall. The multi-million-dollar fine had been thrown out by a previous ruling before the Supreme Court intervened.
Attorney Kent Yalowitz, representing the affected families, expressed relief at the court’s decision. The families have waited decades for accountability after losing family members to violence. The reinstatement means victims’ relatives can finally access compensation without facing another lengthy trial process. These American families endured not only tragic losses but also years of legal uncertainty as their case wound through the judicial system. The appeals court decision eliminates the need for a new trial, allowing the original jury verdict to stand.
Congressional Action Supports Victims
Congress took action in 2019 to ensure American victims could seek justice through the legal system. The legislation addressed previous legal obstacles that threatened to prevent families from holding foreign organizations accountable for terrorist acts against United States citizens. Lawmakers recognized the importance of providing legal recourse for Americans harmed abroad, particularly when attacks target civilians. The Supreme Court’s validation of this congressional authority reinforces the government’s commitment to supporting terror victims and their families through all available legal channels.
Long Road to Accountability
The legal battle spans more than two decades, beginning with the original attacks in the early 2000s. Families filed their lawsuit seeking to hold the Palestinian organizations financially responsible for supporting or enabling attacks that killed and maimed American citizens. The $656 million judgment represents one of the largest terror-related verdicts involving American victims. This case establishes important precedent for holding foreign entities accountable when their actions harm United States nationals, potentially opening pathways for other victims seeking justice through American courts.