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Millions awarded to Hezbollah rocket victims in Israel

Judge Steven L. Tiscione of the Brooklyn federal court ruled the plaintiffs proved Hezbollah violated the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act.

Second Lebanon War
Smoke rises over Haifa after a rocket fired by Hezbollah hit near the Bnai Zion Medical Center during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

A U.S. court has ordered Hezbollah to pay millions of dollars in damages to several Americans who filed a lawsuit claiming they were hurt by the terrorist group’s rockets during a war with Israel in 2006.

The lawsuit was filed under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act, alleging that Hezbollah caused the plaintiffs physical and emotional harm as well as property damage. The judge awarded the plaintiffs $111 million in damages.

“Only by exacting a heavy price from those who engage in the business of terrorism can we prevent the suffering and loss of additional victims to their violence,” said Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs and the founder of the Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center.

Judge Steven L. Tiscione of the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, ruled on Friday that the plaintiffs had demonstrated that Hezbollah’s conduct violated the Anti-Terrorism Act and held the organization accountable.

The United States is “shutting down the financial infrastructure that allows the regime to continue its threats to U.S. national security and global shipping,” the U.S. treasury secretary said.
“The American people are crying out for an end to U.S. tax dollars subsidizing Israel’s military,” Rep. Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told colleagues.
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesman told JNS that the administration “acted well within its statutory and constitutional authority” in Khalil’s case, “as it does with any alien who advocates for violence, glorifies and supports terrorists, harasses Jews and damages property.”
“The Strait of Hormuz is open to all ship traffic except for Iran,” the U.S. president wrote.
The amendment “would restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel,” the House minority leader said.
“We are prepared for any scenario,” the prime minister assured.