This Week’s Topline

Lawsuit Against Perpetrators of 10/7 Attacks including Hamas and Iran

Today, ADL and Crowell & Moring LLP filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Hamas and seven other terrorist organizations and groups are responsible for planning, supporting and carrying out the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel with material support from state sponsors Iran, Syria and North Korea, as well as Hezbollah.

This antisemitic attack, the largest and deadliest since the Holocaust, directly harmed thousands of victims, including the more than 140 U.S. citizen victims and family members who are plaintiffs in the case.

“The world must never forget what happened on October 7,” said David and Hazel Brief, plaintiffs in the lawsuit whose son, Yona, died as a result of injuries sustained during the attack. “We are hopeful that this type of litigation will help prevent attacks like these in the future, so that no other families have to go through losing a loved one as a result of such violence.”

This action seeks compensatory damages for the victims’ suffering along with punitive damages designed to deter future acts of terrorism. The lawsuit also aims to expose the mechanisms through which these countries and their allies fund terrorist operations. The lawsuit utilizes federal statutes that enable victims to seek justice in U.S. courts against both state sponsors of terrorism and terrorist organizations and groups themselves.

This is ADL and Crowell’s second lawsuit targeting those responsible for the attacks. One year ago, we filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of 180 plaintiffs alleging that state sponsors of terror Iran, Syria and North Korea provided material support to Hamas which enabled it to commit atrocities in Israel on 10/7. That case is ongoing.

→ Read more about this lawsuit to seek justice on behalf of victims and their families.

What’s News

How are Jewish Students Around the World Feeling?: More than three-quarters of Jewish students worldwide hide their religious identity (78%) and Zionist identity (81%) on campus, while one in five know Jewish peers who were physically assaulted on campus this past year. As the new academic year begins, a global survey by ADL and the World Union of Jewish Students reveals alarming results from students in over 60 countries. As Victoria, a student at the University of Vienna, shared in the report: “For a moment, I felt like it was the 1930s, and Jewish students were being chased from their universities." Read this companion op-ed by ADL SVP Marina Rosenberg about the challenges students face: "It’s an exhausting daily choice between authenticity and safety."

ADL on the Hill: Yesterday in DC, ADL volunteers met with over 20 House and Senate offices (both Republicans and Democrats) to push for action on antisemitism concerns. Among the topics championed by the ADL advocates were the HEAL Act, which would order an audit of national Holocaust education programs; “robust funding” for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which faces potential budget cuts; and letters from lawmakers to K-12 schools in their districts, calling on the schools to implement clear policies on antisemitic harassment. Additionally, in the Senate meetings, ADL pushed for the Protecting Students on Campus Act, which helps students file discrimination complaints. As ADL's Lauren Wolman explained, “From first-time volunteers to seasoned ADL leaders, our message is the same: protecting Jewish students is not partisan, it’s a matter of basic safety and civil rights.”

TAKE ACTION WITH US:

• Click here to join ADL in urging Congress to reject massive cuts to the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights and keep critical civil rights enforcement intact.
• Click here to urge your Representatives to send a message to local K-12 schools to ensure that Jewish students are safe, supported and able to thrive.

Conspiracy Theories Follow Fatal Shooting of Charlie Kirk: When Charlie Kirk, conservative political commentator and president of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in Utah, antisemitic and anti-Israel conspiracy theories were quick to follow. The horrifying murder is part of a disturbing trend of violent acts against public figures and elected officials. Kirk was viewed by many as pro-Israel. Within hours, and before a suspect had been identified, antisemites and promoters of false narratives seized the moment to attribute the incident to Israel or to blame Jews generally. The ADL Center on Extremism explains some of the most troubling trends that have emerged. READ NOW.

A School Shooter’s Hateful Online History: Before Desmond Holly opened fire at a Colorado high school this month, he developed a fascination with mass shooters. Online, he expressed neo-Nazi views and was active on a violent gore site. Holly’s TikTok accounts were filled with white supremacist symbolism, including antisemitic phrasing. Offline, he began to amass tactical gear. The deeply disturbing specifics of this case follow a pattern discovered by the ADL Center on Extremism in several other school shootings committed by young people over the past year. Read more analysis from ADL’s experts here.

Actions to Safeguard Against Investment Bias: A coalition of leading pro-Israel and Jewish organizations — JLens, ADL, AJC and the Jewish Federations of North America — announced its support for important steps taken by investment-services firm MSCI to ensure neutrality and mitigate the risk of bias in its ESG Controversies products. The coalition is satisfied that MSCI does not support or endorse the anti-Israel BDS movement, and it appreciates the concrete steps the company has taken. The engagement was initiated by ADL-affiliate JLens, which utilizes MSCI data in the construction and management of the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy US Index. Read more.

MAKING PROGRESS WITH ADL

A Victory for California Students: After months of negotiations, Assembly Bill 715, an impactful step toward addressing systemic antisemitism in K-12 classrooms, was passed by the California Senate and Assembly. This bill establishes the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education, appointing a statewide antisemitism coordinator and provides stronger anti-discrimination protections for students. ADL played a critical role in the crafting of the bill’s language and supporters sent tens of thousands of messages to the legislature urging the passage of this bill, helping to overcome fierce opposition. What’s next? We need Governor Newsom’s signature to make this a law. READ MORE.

Social Spotlights

@ADL

Our ADL National Commission delegation met with Itzik Horn — father of Yair and Eitan Horn — and @TheLifshitz, whose grandparents Oded z"l and Yocheved Lifshitz were kidnapped from their home on Oct. 7. Yair was held in Gaza for 498 days before release; Eitan remains in Hamas captivity. We heard their powerful testimony and we continue to demand freedom for all 48 hostages. #BringThemBackHome. Photos.

@ADL

As we have repeatedly pointed out, this UN-backed Commission is deeply anti-Israel and has even engaged in antisemitism. It is therefore no surprise their latest report distorts international law and disregards established legal concepts to falsely malign the Jewish State. This report — along with the body which prepared it — has no credibility and should be treated as such. News Link.

@JGreenblattADL

Very moved by @JoshShapiroPA's words at @EradicateHate_, where he stressed the need for more peaceful, respectful dialogue in our society. I echo his wish for shared humanity & healing. It takes all of us to address political violence & hate, both in real life & online. Read more.

@ADL’s Incident Tracker

The @ADL_tracker feed of news and developments in antisemitism activities.

We are disgusted by the reported antisemitic and vulgar rhetoric that interrupted an Orthodox funeral procession in Inwood, NY. We are grateful for the Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue’s swift decision to dismiss from the organization the person allegedly responsible for this hateful disruption. News link.

— September 11, 2025 Read the full post

It’s outrageous that scholars are boycotting a French Jewish history conference in protest of Israel. As @Yonathan_Arfi remarked, this doesn’t help the civilians of Gaza. We’re seeing more efforts to shut down scholarship and engagement with Jewish and Israeli experts. It’s a blatant display of intellectual terror. More info.

— September 12, 2025 Read the full post

This week an Orthodox Jewish couple was attacked on the street in Venice by three men. A terrible incident, but an admirable response by Italian authorities: politicians denounced the attack; police arrested the attackers; the justice system gave them severe punishments. News link.

— September 12, 2025 Read the full post

See more from ADL’s Incident Tracker.