Trump's DOJ says UN agency can be sued for Oct. 7 attacks, reversing Biden-era position

The Trump Justice Department has said that an bureau nether the United Nations tin beryllium sued successful the United States implicit its alleged engagement with Hamas successful the horrific Oct. 7, 2023, attacks successful Israel wherever astir 1,200 radical were slaughtered, including much than 30 Americans.

In a document filed successful a national tribunal successful New York connected Thursday, the Justice Department said that the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine) is not entitled to immunity, opening the doorway to a perchance monolithic lawsuit.

Families of much than 100 victims of the Hamas-led panic onslaught are claiming $1 cardinal successful damages from UNRWA, asserting that the UN bureau aided and abetted the panic group’s attack. The UNRWA coordinates astir each assistance to Gaza and is considered an affiliate of the UN, but it operates independently.

Life nether Hamas successful the Gaza Strip is exposed by locals surviving determination successful a caller task wherever immoderate locals sermon beingness nether the iron-clad grip of the panic group. (Reuters)

VICTIMS OF OCTOBER 7 MASSACRE FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST UNRWA FOR AIDING HAMAS TERRORISTS

The lawsuit, which was filed past June successful the Southern District of New York, alleges that UNRWA helped Hamas physique up the panic infrastructure and unit that were indispensable to transportation retired the attacks, including by "knowingly providing Hamas with the U.S. dollars successful currency that it needed to wage smugglers for weapons, explosives, and different panic material."

Over $1 cardinal from UNRWA’s New York slope relationship successful Manhattan was progressive successful allegedly benefiting the U.S.-designated violent enactment Hamas, the suit noted. The suit besides accuses the bureau of allowing tunnels and bid centers to beryllium built nether its sites.

Philippe Lazzarini, the caput of UNRWA, was named arsenic 1 of the defendants. 

Memorials astatine the tract of the Oct. 7 Hamas panic onslaught connected the Supernova euphony festival adjacent Kibbutz Re'im, Israel, connected May 27, 2024.  (Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Justice Department said Thursday that nether the law, UNRWA is not considered portion of the United Nations halfway structure, similar its main oregon subsidiary organs, and is seen arsenic more similar to a "specialized agency" which the U.S. ne'er agreed to assistance afloat immunity nether planetary treaties​.

Therefore, UNRWA does not suffice for diplomatic immunity nether U.S. law, and must reply the lawsuit.

"The ailment successful this lawsuit alleges atrocious behaviour connected the portion of UNRWA and its officers," the April 24 papers reads.

Hamas terrorists drove backmost to the Gaza Strip with the assemblage of Shani Louk, a German-Israeli dual citizen, connected Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Mahmud)

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"Of course, specified allegations are lone the archetypal measurement connected a agelong road, wherever plaintiffs volition beryllium required to beryllium what they person alleged. The authorities believes they indispensable reply these allegations successful American courts. The anterior administration’s presumption that they bash not was wrong."

It marks a drastic reversal from the Biden-era Justice Department’s stance successful October wherever it argued that UNRWA was protected by planetary ineligible immunity arsenic portion of the broader United Nations system.

The Justice Department determination comes weeks after Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced authorities that would let American victims of panic groups to clasp the organizations that money those groups accountable successful a tribunal of law. It would specifically portion immunity from UNRWA and let American victims of terrorism, similar those attacked connected Oct. 7, to writer UNRWA and its workers successful U.S. courts.

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The measure fundamentally reintroduced the Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act, which is akin to a measure helium introduced during the past Congress.

Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz volition nonstop a missive to AG Merrick Garland this week calling connected the DOJ to unfastened a transgression probe into UNRWA USA. (Getty Images)

The Justice Department’s caller presumption makes the halfway extremity of Cruz’s LIABLE Act partially achieved without legislation, though the LIABLE Act would permanently codify this no-immunity stance into law.

After revelations astir UNRWA workers participating successful the Oct. 7 slaughter, the U.S. suspended its assistance to UNRWA. Before the suspension, the U.S. was the largest azygous donor to UNRWA.

Fox News’ Rachel Wolf contributed to this report. 

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