Lawsuit Claims Advocacy Groups Aided Hamas in October 7 Attack

NEW YORK — A lawsuit filed Monday in the Southern District of New York alleges that several anti-Israel activist groups, including Columbia University’s Apartheid Divest and Within Our Lifetime, had prior knowledge of the October 7 massacre orchestrated by Hamas. The families of the attack’s victims are seeking damages, claiming these organizations aided and abetted terrorist groups in Gaza.

The plaintiffs contend that the defendants, including within their ranks Nerdeen Kiswani of Within Our Lifetime and Maryam Alwan of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, were involved in a coordinated effort with Hamas, asserting that the timing of their activities indicates foreknowledge of the events.

Shlomi Ziv, a hostage who endured 246 days under Hamas captivity, alleged that his captors stated they had operatives in American universities, specifically referencing protests organized by the defendants. Ziv recalls being shown images of these demonstrations at Columbia University.

The lawsuit claims that a resurgence of activism by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) occurred just minutes before the Hamas attack, with their reactivated Instagram account announcing a meeting and urging supporters to “stay tuned.” Following the attack, 83 SJP chapters released statements backing Hamas, suggesting premeditated coordination.

On October 12, subsequent rallies were organized under a “Day of Resistance Toolkit,” which included propaganda materials that the lawsuit alleges were designed before the attack. The toolkit called for direct action against what the authors deemed as “Zionism” and emphasized a unified Palestinian resistance, characterizing all forms of struggle, including armed resistance, as legitimate.

The suit also focuses on the collaboration between various groups, claiming that organizations like the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) operated as a “public relations wing” for Hamas. The allegations extend to the history of these organizations, which the plaintiffs assert were born from previous entities linked to Hamas.

Columbia SJP is described as an extension of the broader SJP movement, and the relationship between Columbia Jewish Voice for Peace and Within Our Lifetime reportedly enabled further fundraising and organizational support for pro-Hamas activities on campus.

As the lawsuit unfolds, activists involved in these groups have received significant backlash. In January, demonstrations disrupted a course on Israeli history at Columbia, and in recent months, protests occurred outside university buildings, raising concerns among students.

One plaintiff recounted her distress from pro-Hamas protests near her residence, which coincided with memories of her soldier brother being injured, while another, Iris Weinstein Haggai, who has a family member taken hostage by Hamas, is also a contributor to the legal challenge.

The legal proceedings, backed by multiple plaintiffs, including family members of victims, cite provisions under the Antiterrorism Act and the Alien Tort Statute, alleging violations of international law.