Attorney General Gentner Drummond is urging the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to deny requests to dismiss a lawsuit brought under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) by survivors and family members of those murdered during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.
The lawsuit seeks to hold AJP Educational Foundation, also known as American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), and the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) accountable for allegedly providing material support to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
In an amicus brief filed last week, Drummond and a coalition of 21 other attorneys general argue that dismissing the claims before discovery would undermine the ability of victims to receive compensation and would prevent organizations like AMP and NSJP from being held accountable for their actions.
“We must ensure that terrorists and those who support their activities are held accountable in order to effectively combat terrorism,” Drummond said. “The ATA is the most effective tool for victims and their families to seek compensation from the defendants. While no amount of financial compensation can ever make up for the tragic losses suffered by the victims of Hamas’ attack, seeking compensation through the ATA is an important instrument in our fight against terrorism.”
The lawsuit alleges that AMP’s material support for Hamas has persisted for decades, originating from its predecessor organizations whose board members were convicted of providing material support in the form of millions of dollars to Hamas.
Also joining the brief were Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.