(Rightallegiance.com) – In a significant legal move, families of individuals taken hostage during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel have initiated a lawsuit against Mahmoud Khalil and several anti-Israel organizations. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges that these entities acted as Hamas’s “propaganda arm,” thereby aiding and abetting the terrorist group’s activities.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a coordinated assault on Israel, resulting in numerous casualties and the abduction of several individuals. The attack drew widespread international condemnation and led to increased tensions in the region. Families of the hostages have since been engaged in efforts to secure the release of their loved ones, facing numerous challenges along the way.
The plaintiffs, comprising nine U.S. and Israeli citizens, including relatives of those affected by the attack, accuse Mahmoud Khalil and associated groups of providing support to Hamas. The lawsuit specifically names Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Within Our Lifetime-United for Palestine as defendants. It alleges that these organizations coordinated with Hamas to support its attacks and engaged in activities that amounted to offering illegal public relations services for the terrorist group.
A notable claim within the lawsuit is that some defendants had prior knowledge of the October 7 attack. This assertion is based on an Instagram post by Columbia SJP, made shortly before the assault, which welcomed students back for the semester with the message, “we are back!!” The plaintiffs argue that this indicates foreknowledge of the impending attack.
Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center and representative for the plaintiffs, emphasized that the issue centers on illegal coordination with a foreign terrorist organization. He stated, “This is not about free speech; this is about illegal coordination with a foreign terrorist organization.”
Mahmoud Khalil, a Jordanian national and recent Columbia University graduate, has been under scrutiny for his involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in March 2025, an action his lawyers describe as targeted and retaliatory due to his activism. They contend that Khalil’s detention violates his rights to free speech and due process.
This legal action could have far-reaching consequences for campus activism and the boundaries of free speech, especially concerning issues related to international conflicts. It raises questions about the extent to which student organizations can engage in political advocacy without being implicated in broader geopolitical disputes. The lawsuit also highlights the complexities of addressing alleged support for terrorist organizations within academic institutions.
The lawsuit filed by the families of Hamas hostages against Mahmoud Khalil and anti-Israel groups underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its reverberations on U.S. campuses. As the legal proceedings unfold, they are likely to spark further debate on the balance between free expression and the prevention of support for designated terrorist organizations.