NEW YORK CITY, NY – The families of individuals abducted by Hamas during the devastating October 7, 2023, terrorist attack have launched a lawsuit against Mahmoud Khalil, a detained Columbia University protester, along with several other activists and anti-Israel student organizations. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday, accuses Khalil and the groups of “aiding and abetting Hamas’ continuing acts of international terrorism,” claiming their actions have prolonged the captives’ ordeal.
The plaintiffs, whose loved ones were among the roughly 250 people kidnapped during the assault that left approximately 1,200 dead, allege that Khalil and his co-defendants knowingly supported the palestinian terror group’s agenda. Named in the suit alongside Khalil are prominent anti-Israel student groups, including Columbia University Apartheid Divest, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and Within Our Lifetime, as well as activists Nidaa Kiswani, Linda Alwan, and Maxine Jones. The families assert that these defendants played a critical role in amplifying Hamas’ rhetoric and objectives following the attack.
According to the complaint, as Hamas executed its brutal rampage—deliberately targeting and killing men, women, children, babies, and seizing hostages—the group issued a call to its supporters worldwide to “join the battle in any way they can.” The lawsuit contends that Khalil, Kiswani, Alwan, and Jones responded by orchestrating anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University, effectively echoing Hamas’ messaging on American soil. “Their efforts to parrot and promote Hamas’ propaganda have provided material support to the terrorist organization,” the filing states, arguing that such actions have bolstered Hamas’ leverage in negotiations, delaying the hostages’ release.
Khalil, identified as a key figure in last year’s anti-Israel protests that roiled Columbia’s campus, was arrested earlier this month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and remains in custody at a Louisiana detention facility. The Trump administration has accused him of ties to Hamas, though his legal team denies the allegations, framing his detention as retaliation for exercising free speech. Alongside Khalil, Kiswani is singled out as a leader of Within Our Lifetime, while Alwan and Jones are accused of supporting the cause through their roles in SJP.
The lawsuit paints a vivid picture of the October 7 attack, describing how Hamas operatives stormed southern Israel, slaughtering, raping, and torturing civilians—including children—in their homes and dragging others into Gaza. More than a year later, dozens of hostages remain unaccounted for, with families enduring agonizing uncertainty. The plaintiffs argue that the defendants’ actions have compounded their suffering by strengthening Hamas’ position.
Representing the families, attorney Robert J. Tolchin emphasized the personal toll of the ordeal. “Imagine the anguish of knowing your loved one is being held by terrorists, tortured daily, while others cheer on those responsible,” he told The Post. The legal action seeks unspecified damages and aims to hold the defendants accountable for allegedly fueling Hamas’ campaign of terror.
As per The Post: “Their self-described acts in furtherance of their goals to assist Hamas have included terrorizing and assaulting Jewish students, unlawfully taking over and damaging public and university property on Columbia’s campus, and physically assaulting Columbia University employees,” the families added.
Columbia University declined to comment on the lawsuit citing its policy on pending litigation and student privacy. Representatives for the named student groups and individuals did not immediately respond to the Post’s requests for comment.
The case emerges amid heightened tensions over U.S. campus activism tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on pro-terrorist activities, with Khalil’s arrest marking a flashpoint in that effort. As the legal proceedings unfold, the families hope to shine a light on what they see as a network of support for Hamas operating within the United States.
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