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Edited by: Fern Sidman
For the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7, 2023, a group of Israelis has filed a lawsuit against Al Jazeera, accusing the Qatari news network of actively aiding and abetting Hamas. As reported by Israel Hayom, the lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., by dozens of victims of the October 7 massacre, including Morris Schneider, whose niece, Shiri Bibas, and her two young children, Kfir and Ariel, were murdered while in Hamas captivity.
Schneider, whose sister Margit Silberman and her husband Yossi were also murdered by Hamas in Nir Oz on the day of the attack, spoke out about the emotional devastation his family has suffered. According to the information provided in the Israel Hayom report, Schneider declared that “the cruel murder of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel by terrorists from Gaza is an inconceivable atrocity that has destroyed our family forever and has caused pain to millions of good people around the world.”
He described the kidnapping and murder of toddlers as an act of pure evil, emphasizing that “no person with a shred of humanity” could accept such barbarity. While acknowledging that no legal action could erase the trauma, Schneider stressed that achieving justice against those responsible for these crimes is an imperative step.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, president of the Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center, and is backed by research from Jordan Cope of the StandWithUs organization. The report in Israel Hayom indicated that the legal claim asserts that Al Jazeera employed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives as journalists, including individuals who directly participated in the October 7 attack.
Furthermore, the lawsuit highlighted how Al Jazeera provided exclusive interviews with Hamas leaders, including those responsible for terror attacks against Israeli and American civilians. The case extends to Al Jazeera’s U.S. subsidiary, which, according to the plaintiffs, played an active role in facilitating Hamas and PIJ operations.
At the core of the lawsuit is the accusation that Al Jazeera functioned not as an independent media outlet but as a strategic partner in Hamas’s terrorist activities. According to the information in the Israel Hayom report, Darshan-Leitner argued that terrorist organizations do not operate in isolation; they require financial networks, logistical support, and media amplification to carry out their agendas.
“Terrorist organizations do not operate alone,” Darshan-Leitner stated. “They need financial support, logistical networks, and media outlets to advance their agenda. Al Jazeera served as an agent of the terrorist organization Hamas.”
The lawsuit invokes U.S. anti-terrorism laws, which impose legal liability on entities that knowingly provide “substantial assistance” to terrorist organizations. The report in Israel Hayom explained that Darshan-Leitner vowed that Al Jazeera would be held accountable for its role, saying: “U.S. law is clear: Those who knowingly provide substantial assistance to terrorists are as guilty as those who carry out the attacks. We will not allow them to hide behind the facade of a news network while acting as a mouthpiece for terrorist organizations. They will pay the price.”
A senior Israeli security official echoed the central claim of the lawsuit, telling Israel Hayom that Al Jazeera acts as a “force multiplier” for Hamas—a term used to describe an entity that significantly enhances the operational capabilities of a military or terrorist organization. This accusation is not new; Israel has long criticized Al Jazeera for what it sees as biased, inflammatory coverage that provides a platform for Hamas propaganda.
If successful, this lawsuit could have far-reaching consequences for Al Jazeera’s operations in the U.S. and internationally. The network, which operates an American subsidiary, could face severe financial penalties and restrictions on its ability to operate in the U.S. if found guilty of violating anti-terror laws.
The case also highlights the broader issue of media ethics and terrorism, with the report in Israel Hayom emphasizing that providing a platform to terrorist leaders and operatives may not be protected under the guise of journalism.
