Former Hostages and Students Sue Pro-Palestinian Groups: “They Knew About the Massacre in Advance”

A group of Jewish students from Columbia University, along with representatives of Israeli hostages and their families, have filed a lawsuit in a New York court against several student organizations and pro-Palestinian activists. The lawsuit alleges that the groups provided indirect support to Hamas through propaganda efforts and activist recruitment, and that some members were allegedly aware, in advance, of plans for the October 7 terror attacks.

Hostage Testifies to Hamas Propaganda on Campus

Among the plaintiffs is Shlomi Ziv, a survivor who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival and freed during the IDF’s Operation Arnon. In sworn testimony, Ziv described how his captors regularly showed him propaganda highlighting protests at Columbia and emphasized the presence of Hamas-linked support on U.S. campuses.

“They showed me news coverage and photos from campus demonstrations organized by the defendants,” Ziv said in the filing. “They played Al Jazeera reports to demonstrate Hamas’s ‘success’ in winning international support.”

Ziv further claimed that his captors boasted about the presence of Hamas-affiliated activists on American university campuses, and said the protests were considered part of their broader struggle.

Former hostage Shlomi Ziv arrives home following his release from Hamas captivity | Photo: Ayal Margolin/Flash90

A “Propaganda Arm” of Hamas

The suit was filed under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act and demands financial damages from the organizations accused of indirectly aiding international terrorism. In addition to compensation, the plaintiffs are seeking legal sanctions against the groups involved. The defendants, represented by the National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), include “Students for Justice in Palestine” (SJP), “Jewish Voice for Peace” (JVP), and prominent activists such as Mahmoud Khalil. The lawsuit describes them as operating in coordination with Hamas, acting as its “propaganda arm” on American soil.

Significant Support for Hamas

According to the complaint, since the start of the war, these organizations have provided “significant support” to Hamas. On the day following the October 7 attacks, several SJP chapters reportedly distributed toolkits encouraging “active, not just rhetorical” support for Hamas, including organizing mass protests and fundraising efforts on its behalf.

Mahmoud Khalil’s Role

Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of Columbia who led campus protests since the beginning of the war, is named as a central figure in the lawsuit. Khalil was detained by U.S. immigration authorities two weeks ago and is currently awaiting deportation proceedings. The filing describes him as a liaison between pro-Palestinian campus groups and external actors linked to Hamas. His attorneys have denied any connection between Khalil and Hamas.