Palestinian Authorities Seek Supreme Court Intervention Over $656 Million Judgment
In a dramatic turn of events, Palestinian officials have approached the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily halt the enforcement of a substantial $656 million judgment. This development is part of a protracted legal battle involving American victims of attacks in Israel.
The request emerged following a lower court’s decision to reinstate these damages, a move influenced by a Supreme Court ruling that has seen over two decades of litigation.
In their court filings, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority highlighted the financial strain of the judgment, warning that immediate payment could “destabilize critical government services Petitioners provide in the West Bank, injure innocent citizens, and jeopardize regional security.”
To this end, they urged the justices to delay the payment while they contest the verdict’s reinstatement.
The legal case was initiated by the families of those affected by a series of attacks in Jerusalem during the early 2000s. These incidents resulted in the deaths of 33 individuals and left hundreds injured. The families pursued their lawsuit under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which is designed to grant victims of international terrorism access to U.S. courts.
Initially, a federal court in New York overturned the original verdict, siding with the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority after Congress amended the law to facilitate such lawsuits. However, in 2025, the Supreme Court reversed this decision, allowing the lawsuits to proceed.
Subsequently, in March, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to reinstate the judgment. At the time, attorneys representing the victims’ families expressed satisfaction and relief, stating that the decision would enable “justice to be done.”
However, they have chosen not to comment on the recent petition to the Supreme Court.
